The answer to Norristown’s search for an AD

So there’s a big meeting Thursday night as Norristown Area High School continues its search for a new athletic director. The district wants to make the comprehensive search as transparent as possible, welcoming suggestions from the community.

It’s a step in the right direction.

Let’s just hope the sinking ship that is the Norristown athletic program hasn’t already taken on too much water, because, honestly, that once proud athletic program has fall- en on hard times.

And what’s scary is, it hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. I’m not saying it will, but the future is far from bright for anyone planning to don an Eagles’ uniform in the coming years. So, what’s the answer? Me. Yep, that’s right. Mark Schiele, Times Herald Sports Editor, can provide the fix.

OK, so I’m only half joking. Sure, I’d love the job. Maybe enough to give up the big bucks I make in the journalism business to do something I love for my home school district. It’s a tough call.

So, how do you fix Norristown athletics? Baby steps; because it’s not going to be easy. *** Let’s get one thing straight — this is not the fault of the late Chuck Knowles, who gave everything for the athletes in the district and was one of the best athletic directors I’ve had a chance to work with during my 25-plus years in this business.

Also, don’t point fingers at Lou Pacchioli, who served as the interim AD this year before realizing it’s more fun to be retired than to deal with a mess he wouldn’t have time to fully clean up.

So, where should the blame fall? There’s plenty

to go around.

It starts at the top, off Whitehall Road, in the district offices and continues into the hallways of the high school itself.

Sure, they have some fine student-athletes who give their all, busting it in practice and in games while trying to live normal teenage lives and keep up with their studies. They are to be commended.

But the sad thing about Norristown is the kids (and I’m not saying it’s all of them) who just don’t care. They don’t care about education or athletics. It’s been said by more than one coach, in more than one sport, that what is killing Norristown’s athletic programs is the fact that some of the best athletes in the school aren’t playing sports. They are content to walk the halls, go to class and go home.

Why? Good question. And who am I to speculate on that. Everyone has reasons for living their life how they see fit.

It’s just so unlike what a Norristown athlete used to be. Think of Josh Culbreath, Jim Williams, Charlie Blockson, Steve Bono, Netta Young, Ron Livers, Tony Darden, Toia Ellis, Dee Fichter and Lisa Ortlip. That’s Norristown athletic royalty.

Something is missing today. Maybe some are too cool for sports. Maybe some are too stuck on themselves and can’t handle coaching. Or maybe they don’t care. Take your pick.

Sadly, some might want to play, but due to the financial struggles in their home life can’t, since they have to work or take care of siblings. Those are the youngsters who get a free pass in my book. My heart goes out to them.

*** A school like Norristown has the deck stacked against it today. And tomorrow, it gets worse.

Next year, for football, Norristown will move into the Suburban One League’s Continental Conference, and will be facing the likes of Harry S. Truman, Council Rock South, Central Bucks East, Council Rock North and Central Bucks West. This, after a winless 2013 season played against a schedule of smaller enrollment schools.

The answer? Can you say Pioneer Athletic Conference? That’s what Norristown should look into. Maybe pair up with Upper Merion and jump to the PAC-10 (12) together.

Think about it. It all fits. For the Pioneer Athletic Conference, you would have a Class AAAA division (Norristown, Spring-Ford, Perkiomen Valley, Methacton, Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts) and a Class AAA division (Upper Merion, Pope John Paul II, Pottsgrove, Phoenixville, Pottstown and Upper Perkiomen).

It’s a better geographic fit. The competition is still topnotch. It’s what the future should be.

*** First and foremost on the agenda of the new athletic director should be completing the stadium at the high school.

There is a nice turf field in place, but no place for anyone to sit. There are no locker rooms. A nice concession stand and bathrooms would help.

In reality, it’s an embarrassment to the district. I’ve seen better arrangements at PW Spartans and Conshy Bears football games than what Norristown has to offer.

OK, sure, it costs money to build that, and the taxpayers sure don’t want to foot the bill. I’m one of them, and hell no, I don’t either. But I have a plan. I’d start with the property that used to house Burnside Elementary School. I don’t want to hear about “fair market value.” Here’s how you do it — total up what it would cost to build a real stadium at the high school, including stands, locker rooms, a snack stand, a super cool scoreboard, the whole works.

And then — BAM! — that’s the asking price. What’s so hard about that?

Need a little more cash? Roosevelt Field is doing nothing these days, unless you consider seeing it dilapidate before your eyes progress. Keep the school, sell the eyesore of a stadium and move on.

And see if the community is willing to help out. Have you seen that baseball palace that is springing up at Methacton High School? Guess what that field of dreams is costing the Methacton School District? Zero! Nada! Zilch! J.P. Mascaro is footing the bill.

Here’s one more suggestion — sponsorship. When William Tennent did a makeover to its stadium, it got a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard for free from CocaCola.

How? Sure, the scoreboard has a giant Coca-Cola ad on it, and the district has to sell Coke products at the stadium. But did you miss the “free” part?

*** So, now getting back to the process of selecting a new athletic director at Norristown. Let’s toss the chips on the table for all to see.

According to a release from the district on Thursday’s meeting, we can go point-by-point, with a little interjecting added by yours truly. Bachelor’s Degree. 5 or more years of experience as an Athletic Director (OK, guess that rules me out).

Knowledge of and experience in coaching and/or managing athletic programs.

Strong communication and computer skills (isn’t that a no-brainer nowadays?).

Is it me, or doesn’t that seem a little light. From the looks of it, it seems like the district is looking for a yesman (or woman), not someone with a vision to change the landscape at the high school and guide Norristown back to athletic prominence. committee

While the committee is still being formed (really? Interim AD Lou Pacchioli left before Christmas break … what have you guys been doing, shoveling snow?), it will include a representative from Human Resources, NAHS Principal Jeff Smith, district CFO Anne Rohricht and several (as of now unnamed) NASD School Board members along with several (also unnamed) community members.

Does that group instill you with confidence? Not me, that’s for sure.

First of all, school board members should not be involved at all. The board will make the final vote on who gets the job. That being said, no board member should be involved in selecting who gets nominated to go before the full school board for a vote on the position. That part seems polluted, to say the least. Let the search committee do its job, and then let the school board do its job when it comes time to vote.

As for the community members, hopefully some of that gets straightened out Thursday night. If I’m picking the community members, I’m going with people with ties to the glory days from the Norristown Hall of Champions and Hall of Fame. And you know what, I’d also throw in a current coach, someone who knows the pulse of the school and what is happening in the hallways these days. Oh, and my wild card is Lou Pacchioli, who is anything but a yes-man and is strong enough to let others on the committee know when they were being fed a

bunch of BS.

*** This is an important time for Norristown Area High School and its athletic department.

There are at least three open head coaching positions — football, baseball and girls lacrosse. Football can maybe wait, but the spring season is fast approaching, so it would be a good idea to maybe fill them sooner rather than later.

What’s disturbing is the lack of urgency by those at the top. The search for a new AD should have been in full swing even when Pacchioli was serving in an interim capacity. Had it been moving forward, the district wouldn’t have been caught with its pants down when Pacchioli, apparently frustrated with his situation, walked off into the sunset.

As for Thursday’s public meeting, well something smells rotten in West Norriton. Sure, it’s a nice public relations move to encourage the community to get involved and give input. But is the district expecting a savior to walk in, stand up and with the snap of his or her fingers find an instant solution?

Yeah, like that’s going to happen.

I envision more harm coming out of this than good. I see several camps, each with different agendas, taking the conversation different directions. I can also see coaches, with opinions to express, electing to keep quiet about something that should be addressed in private. But mostly I see the board members trying to put on a dog and pony show for the public with absolutely no intention of listening to what anyone has to say.

Who knows, maybe I will end up getting the Athletic Director’s job at Norristown. Why? Because there’s a chance nobody in their right mind would want it.