Coaching contract will open for 2004

Garry Smith will have the opportunity to reapply for the football-coaching job.
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzo@vindy.com & gt;By JOE SCALZO & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- The Boardman board of education voted unanimously Monday to open the school's varsity football coaching contract for next season.
But Garry Smith could still be back.
"We have a committee that will review all applicants and we want to make sure we have the best individual at the head of the program," Boardman superintendent Don Dailey said, adding: "I hope Garry throws his hat in the ring."
Smith, who was notified Thursday by high school principal Tim Saxton that the contract would be open, compiled a 42-31 record in seven seasons at Boardman.
Smith, who could not be reached for comment, can still apply for the job.
"No one is above scrutiny; no one is above review," said attorney Mark A. Huberman, a member of the board. "We're confident that the process we have is in the best interest of the school and will work in bringing the best possible candidate for the job."
Background
Smith, a Rayen School graduate, played football at YSU for coach Dike Beede in 1969. He has taught social studies at Boardman for more than 30 years and was hired as head football coach in 1997 after 25 years as an assistant at all levels.
He led the Spartans to two Steel Valley Conference titles and two playoff appearances. The Spartans went 1-9 last season -- the worst season in Smith's tenure.
"We hope no one is looking at this and saying that a 1-9 season would prompt this," said board president Robert DeMarco. "That was clearly not part of the decision."
DeMarco said the board is to trying to do what's best for the future of Boardman's program. The school will look at school employees first, but will also consider coaches outside the school system.
"This isn't about Garry Smith as an individual," DeMarco said. "I don't think you'll find one board member who doesn't like Garry."
While many in the Boardman community are unhappy with the decision, much of the criticism has been about how the situation was handled by school administration.
Pavlansky's view
"The manner in which Garry Smith has been treated is a shame," Boardman track and cross country coach Dave Pavlansky said during the meeting. "In 1997, members of the board championed his hiring as a teacher and also a football coach, not the other way around.
"He's the same man now as he was then. Any future praise that the board gives Garry Smith will ring hollow."
Dailey admitted the process was flawed.
"In hindsight, I think we would have done things differently," Dailey said. "I think maybe the process wasn't fair to Garry."
Fox's opinion
Jim Fox, who served as Boardman's athletic director from 1997 to 2002, also spoke out against the board's decision.
"I'm frankly disappointed in the recent action in asking for his resignation," Fox said. "The wording was changed today, but it really means the same thing."
Smith is the only head coach in Boardman history to win Steel Valley Conference titles in three different sports -- baseball (1986), softball ('95) and football ('97 and '98).
Fox said Smith brought stability to all three programs.
"He never complained about the schedule or the budget," Fox said. "He just went out and did his job.
"It seems this board has chosen has chosen a poor manner to reward someone who has given so much to Boardman High School."
& lt;a href=mailto:scalzok@vindy.com & gt;scalzo@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;