It's decision day tomorrow on the Olympic college basketball coaching position.

And the man who must make the recommendation to the Bremerton school board at its meeting is superintendent of schools Armin Jahr.

From a list of four qualified individuals - Ken Wills of West high school, Les Eathorne of East high, Roy Critser, current Olympic assistant, and Don Cooley, an OC football aide and former Apprentice school basketball mentor - Jahr must select one for recommendation.

Jahr's task is a difficult one.

Here are some of the things he must consider before arriving at the conclusion:

Experience - Wills, with nearly 30 years of high school coaching behind him, has more than Eathorne; Eathorne, a prep mentor for more than 10 season, has more than either Critser or Cooley. Critser never has head coached and Cooley only in the Apprentice school.

Teaching Requirements - None of the four has the actual masters degree required by Olympic for hiring of faculty members, though Cooley, an engineer, has a license equal to that of a master's degree.

Chain of Reaction - This is a term supplied by Jahr yesterday regarding situations which will be created by transfer of any of the four to the Olympic college level. Moving of either Wills or Eathorne to OC creates vacancies in the teaching stations at either school. Wills, a physical education teacher only, would be easier replaced. Eathorne teaches a full load of "meat" courses and the replacement hare would be most difficult of all. Their coaching replacement would have to named too. Cooley already is on hand on the OC campus and likely work the additional basketball duties into his schedule without too much difficulty. Critser, A Dewey junior high school tutor until he moved to Olympic to takeover Phil Pesco's PE assignments, is perhaps the easiest to replace since substitute teachers are more available on the junior high level than on the high school.

Sentiment - Wills and Eathorne both have wide support from friends, former players and numerous fans. So too does Cooley. On the Olympic campus, however, where the replacement will reside, the trend is definitely pro-Critser. The basketball team, through a representative, already has beseeched OC president Dr. James D. Park to name him. The student body and faculty members appear to want him. Mary Pesco, Phi's widow, wants him. And perhaps most important, Phil Pesco wanted him.

The Time Element - Olympic basketball turnouts begin tomorrow, under Critser at least temporarily. Appointment of Critser to the post would allow the turnouts to continue immediately under the identical system employed by Pesco since Critser, in his assistant's role, is familiar with it. Naming of Wills or Eathorne would likely necessitate a delay since their transfers would have to be effected. Cooley, like Critser, already is on hand. In all cases, save Critser, additional delay could be provided since each of the others would in all likelihood establish a new system of operation.

All factors demand considerable attention since the Rangers are scheduled to open their season in two weeks.

[ top ]