Hudson selected by Fitch
All three finalists for the job were from inside the district.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Even though the Fitch High School girls varsity basketball team didn't have many wins last year, the players managed to keep their enthusiasm for the game, new coach John Hudson said.
And that enthusiasm is something the 2-19 team can build upon for its future, Hudson said.
"These girls have gone through some tough times, there's no question," he said. "They keep coming back time after time with energy and enthusiasm."
Hudson was promoted from junior varsity to varsity coach Monday night by the school board. He replaces David Ward, who resigned to take a job outside of coaching.
Experience
A Cadiz native, Hudson attended the College of Wooster and Mount Union College before taking a job as an assistant boys basketball coach at Liberty High. He spent five years in Liberty, then came to Fitch and spent two years as an assistant coach for the boys team.
Hudson has been the girls junior varsity coach the last two years. He also is a guidance counselor at Austintown Middle School.
Fitch Athletic Director Dick Kenney said there were three finalists for the job: Ann Marie Martin, who was a varsity assistant last season; and Roger Day, an assistant in the boys program.
Kenney said applicants from outside the district weren't interviewed because of the high quality of the finalists from inside the district.
Recommendation
School officials decided to recommend that the school board hire Hudson because of his energy and excitement for the team, Kenney said.
"We believe he's going to be the person to help our kids obtain the success they believe they can," he said.
Hudson said that despite last year's record, he believes the team's enthusiasm will allow it to achieve success if it focuses on the fundamentals of the game.
"It's not a bad situation," he said.
hill@vindy.com