Davenport Assumption boys basketball coach Pat Finn has been asked to step down from his coaching job. School administration has asked the fourth-year coach to resign.
Administrators have not commented on the decision, but Finn told the Quad City Times newspaper about their decision.
“They asked me to resign, and I, after a discussion, said, ‘Yep, I guess I will. There were some communication problems between myself and the administration. I don’t work in the building. “That’s probably the No. 1 issue.”
Finn's coaching record in four years at the Davenport Catholic school was 47-47, including an 11-12 record this year. The Knights made the Class 2-A tournament in 2008 under his direction.
The former Knights' coach speculated conflicting schedules with his teaching job in Walcott with the elementary and intermediate schools there might have been a factor, but also felt his record may have also played a part in the decision.
He told the newspaper he had tried a number of times to get a teaching job at Assumption, but was unsuccessful.
Finn leaves a team that will return nine of twelve players from this past season's roster, including two of his sons. Two-year starter Sean Finn also played quarterback at Assumption last fall.
Boys Basketball: Douma to Leave Waukee Coaching Job
Another boys basketball coaching opening in Iowa is available as Waukee Coach Ross Douma is leaving. However, Douma's departure is his own choice, as he heads closer to his northwest Iowa home area as coach of the Dordt College Defenders in Sioux Center.
Douma was in his third year with the Warriors, but the move to the NAIA school will allow him to be closer to his parents.
But, Douma told the Des Moines Register newspaper the decision comes with some sadness about moving from a school he has enjoyed being a part of. "I have nothing but great things to say about Waukee," he said. "It's the total package in many regards. My family and I have really enjoyed our time here."
Among Douma's players on this year's Waukee squad was Gabe Knutson, who will continue his career at Lehigh University.
Douma quickly made an impact on the Warriors' program in its infancy with a new conference, the perennial powerful Central Iowa Metropolitan League. Waukee made the state tournament in 2008 with an 18-6 record, just one year removed from going 9-14 in the school's first year as a CIML member.
Basketball: Ames' Barnes, Linn-Mar’s Printy Earn Gatorade Honors
The Iowa Gatorade boys' basketball Player of the Year is Harrison Barnes of Ames. He becomes the first junior to win the honor in Iowa, since Waterloo East's Mike Davis did it in 1989.
Barnes will now be one of 51 players to be considered for national honors.
Barnes led the Little Cyclones to the state Class 4-A boys' basketball title with a perfect 26-0 record. He averaged nearly 20 points and nine rebounds a game.
In a statement released by the school, Ames coach Vance Downs said, “This award is a terrific honor for a high character young man."
The Iowa girls' Player of the Year is Linn-Mar's Jaime Printy, a recruit of the University of Iowa, who led her team to the state Class 4-A tournament with a scoring average of nearly 17 points per game for the Lions.
Girls Track and Field: Willms' Effort Best In The Nation
Dike-New Hartford high jumper Hannah Willms cleared six feet, 1/4-inch during the Dickinson Indoor Meet in Cedar Falls March 23rd. That was a national best, according to DyeStat.com
The last girl to clear 6-0 in the high jump indoors was Sheena Gordon of McDowell, Pennsylvania seven years ago.
Willms' effort also beats the state outdoor mark of six-feet by Clinton's Stacy Boerema that same year.
Boys Track and Field: Vorba Adds Coaching Duties At Mason City
Mason City boys track and field coach Jed Vorba is adding the girls' team to his responsibilities as the Mohawks begin the spring season.
The veteran coach takes over the girls' position left vacant when Dave Wilson resigned. He says it's a work in progress and he working out the details on how the combined program at Mason City is going to work.
One of the issues is determining which assistant coaches go to which meets when both boys and girls are competing.
Vorba is responsible for 80 boys and 70 girls in the combined track program at the CIML school.
Softball: Dougherty Commits To Kirkwood
Belmond-Klemme senior Shelby Dougherty has signed a national letter of intent to play softball next season at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
Dougherty was a second team all-state selection last summer and was one of nine players to ink with the eastern Iowa junior college.
As a junior last season, Dougherty struck out 313 batters and fashioned a 0.78 earned run average. Offensively, Shelby hit .320, stroked seven homers and hit nine doubles.
