Koenig hired as baseball coach

The new head coach has experience as a player and a coach.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The high school's former head baseball coach did not get that job back.
The school board deliberated the hiring into early Thursday, voting to hire Matthew Koenig out of nine applicants, including former coach Tony Ross.
Koenig is a Canfield graduate and resident, has had experience in Division I baseball and served as the high school's assistant and freshman baseball coach for the 2004-05 school year, according to the district. He is also a former high school baseball player.
The board came out of a lengthy session, which was closed to the public, at 1:35 a.m. Thursday. Ross had asked for the session and was included in it.
Before the session, several people asked the board to reinstate Ross, who resigned as coach Dec. 5 and pleaded guilty to four gambling charges Dec. 22.
Supporters of the former coach told board members that Ross made a mistake, but they should consider his work for the community and the baseball players.
Ross supporters and those who were opposed to his reinstatement waited for the board to come out of its closed session.
Debbie Rousher said if Ross, who is keeping his teaching position in the district, is good enough for the classroom, then he's good enough for the baseball field.
"I give him kudos for reapplying for the position and opening himself up to additional public humiliation," she said. "He must be very passionate about the team."
Others said that they had nothing against Ross personally, but that in light of his criminal case, reinstating him did not set a good example for students.
Basis for charges
Canfield police charged Ross in August with gambling for profit over 11 Texas Hold 'Em tournaments he said he held to raise money for scholarships for student athletes.
After an investigation, police determined that Ross' organization did not have the proper tax-exempt status and that there were questionable expenses in the organization's account.
Of $60,000 brought in by the tournaments, only $1,500 went to students for scholarships, police concluded.
Ross teaches in the district's Occupational Work Experience-Occupational Work Adjustment program for ninth- and 10-graders.
Koenig is preparing a list of people he wants to nominate for assistant coaches, the school district said. The athletic director will review the list for a recommendation to the superintendent. The board will vote on the recommendation, said board president Martha Zarlenga.