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Spaite resigns as Columbiana boys coach
By NICK SHOOK
COLUMBIANA
Columbiana head coach Grant Spaite recently resigned after one season at the helm of the boys basketball program.
Spaite stepped down as head coach following the 2010-11 season. A 1993 graduate of Columbiana, Spaite graduated from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1997. He coached at Springfield before joining the staff at Columbiana as an assistant in 2009-10. When the head coaching position became available in 2010, Spaite took over.
“It was just an opportunity that came my way,” Spaite said.
Columbiana endured a difficult 2010-11 season, finishing with a record of 5-16. He said that his resignation had nothing to do with his team’s performance.
“The kids played hard and we had a good year, even if that didn’t reflect in our record,” Spaite said. “We just stuggled to score.”
“I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Columbiana,” Spaite said. “It wasn’t something I was looking for.”
Making the decision to leave Columbiana was difficult for Spaite, who will continue to teach at Springfield.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for me, thinking it over, being at my alma mater,” Spaite said. “I mulled it over for about a week before I decided that I was going.”
Spaite will occupy the sidelines at Hudson High School this season as an assistant coach under Jeff Brink. The Explorers finished the 2010-11 season with a 7-14 record.
“It’s going to be fun,” Spaite said. “I like coaching with Jeff.”
Spaite was Brink’s assistant at Springfield before taking over when Brink went to Salem.