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JOHNSON: PLAS athletics in delicate situation
Published 10:55pm Monday, June 11, 2012In a time when Pike Liberal Arts should be celebrating a successful school year and athletic season, the institution finds itself searching for an athletic director and football coach.
It is a search prompted by former AD Steven Kilcrease’s decision to take an assistant coaching and teaching position at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn.
While the decision and reasons for Kilcrease’s departure are completely his own, one must wonder why a coach with deep roots in Troy that has built a successful program would suddenly leave for a position of lesser importance.
Pike Liberal Arts’ athletic program, thanks in large part to Kilcrease, surfaced from the basement of the AISA to win six state championships in various sports in his five seasons as athletic director. The program before this point could be called, at least, “dead in the water.”
The process of finding a replacement will be a tricky one for the Pike administration. With varsity football participation already expected to drop due the graduation of 22 members of last year’s squad, the school can ill afford to shift into reverse.
Kilcrease steadied the Patriots athletic program and built a strength training and off-season workout program the school had never experienced before and the payoff was great.
Two football titles, two golf championships, and trophies in girl’s basketball and baseball all came under Kilcrease’s guidance and direction.
Not to say the next athletic director can not continue this success, but a look into school’s the past shows choosing the wrong person could have disastrous effects.
Personal opinion aside, numbers show Pike already had the perfect man for the job. The challenge now will be to find the next to perfect person and hope things work out.
It will, without a doubt, be an interesting summer for the Patriots.
Yes, this should raise questions as to why he decided to leave after such successful seasons. Good luck with finding anyone more loyal, dedicated and loved than the Athletic staff that has been there over the past few years. Two great men will definitely be missed this year, but knowing things that have happened in the past no one should be shocked.
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It is a sad testimony to the state of affairs at PLAS right now. They have made a huge mistake in letting Kilcrease slide thru their.fingers. The board needs to make some changes and he wasn’t one of them. The large loss of staff this summer can also attest to that as well. I’m afraid that with the projected hire of Grant, they will see the athletic program see a rapid back slide. I for one will not allow my children to play any sport he coaches. Good luck and much prayers PLAS….you’re going to need them!
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Coach Grant is one of the best coaches in the State! PLAS is very fortunate to have him as Head football coach and Athletic Director. He will do a great job rebuilding the football team. He will not let the parents run the program, as in the past, and will make the best decisions to benefit the athletic department. I only wish there were 3 of him, so he could coach every sport!
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