PREPS Fitch promotes Day to boys hoops coach

He replaces Gary Conroy, who resigned after the past season.
AUSTINTOWN -- After Roger Day hung up his basketball shoes following Poland's 1995 season, he attended Youngstown State University with a dream to someday coach high school athletes.
After five seasons of helping boys and girls basketball programs in Poland and Austintown, his dream has come true. Day has received the biggest challenge of his young life -- leading the Fitch High boys basketball program.
"This is exciting," said Day, a ninth-grade social studies teacher at Fitch. "It certainly has been a lifelong dream to be a head varsity coach and it's a great school with great kids in a very competitive league."
Day replaces Gary Conroy, who resigned in March after nine seasons with a 110-82 record (seven with the Falcons in the Steel Valley Conference and two in the Federal League).
Been assistant at Fitch
This past season, Day, who played for Ken Grisdale at Poland, was varsity assistant to John Hudson, the Falcons' first-year girls varsity coach. Before that, Day was Conroy's varsity assistant for two seasons.
According to athletic administrator Joseph Nohra, Fitch did not look outside its system to replace Conroy.
"Roger Day brings a solid background to the program," said Nohra who becomes Fitch athletic director in July. "Although Coach Day has big shoes to fill, his overall background in athletics should prepare him to compete in a tough Federal League, the state's premier interscholastic athletic league."
Day said the Federal League represents a tough challenge for Fitch athletes.
"Top to bottom, there are great teams, including the defending state champs [Canton McKinley]," Day said.
Day described Conroy as being "incredibly organized, a great Xs and Os person. And he demands the best from the kids and that's something I respect."
Day admitted a big challenge Fitch coaches face is keeping athletes from transferring.
"It's important to establish relationships to keep them in your system," Day said.