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Sebring’s Clark not renewed
By Joe Scalzo
Brian Clark replaced a legend but he thinks he left his own legacy, too.
The Sebring board of education voted 3-2 not to renew Clark’s contract Wednesday night, ending his 11-year run as the school’s boys basketball coach.
Clark was hired in 1999 to replace legendary coach Rick Brook, who won more than 500 games over 32 years with the Trojans.
“I don’t have anything bad to say about my situation in Sebring,” Clark said by phone on Thursday. “When you take a job coming after a legend like Coach Brook, you expect it to be difficult.
“It’s a job with high expectations and a job a lot of people want.”
Clark won 161 games at Sebring, advancing to the state semifinals in 2004 before falling to Maria Stein Marion Local.
It was the Trojans’ first state tournament appearance in 31 years.
“I had some wonderful years,” said Clark, who will continue to teach at Sebring. “You can’t underestimate the talent of the players that I had that I got to coach.
“I don’t consider myself a cut above anybody else. I just work hard to get the best out of my players and be a mentor to them.”
Clark, whose wife is the president of Sebring’s booster club, has five kids, all with a grade point average of 3.5 or better. He said he would not rule out returning to coaching elsewhere.
“Really, I put my trust and my faith that God will direct where things go,” he said. “He has the master plan; I’m just a follower.”
Sebring returns seven of its top nine players next season after a 9-12 mark this winter.
“This is a good job for somebody and I don’t think anyone would ever question the fundamentals of the players in this program,” Clark said. “Maybe I replaced a legend, but maybe I left behind a legacy, too.
“It’s not going to be easy for the next guy, either.”
Boardman’s Goske leaves
Boardman boys basketball coach Jim Goske has stepped down after three seasons with the Spartans.
Goske went 26-38 at Boardman, including a 7-14 mark this winter.
His best season came in 2008-09 when the Spartans went 11-11 and fell to Massillon Jackson in a Division I sectional final. The Polar Bears won a state title the next season.
Goske’s career record was 48-60. He cited “personal reasons” for the decision.