Irwin Resigns As Whitko Hoops Coach
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
After mulling the decision over all season, coach Rob Irwin decided to resign as boys basketball coach this month and had his request approved at Monday night’s Whitko School Board meeting.
Irwin cited his responsibility as the school’s athletic director as a major reason for stepping down as coach.
“It had gotten to the point where I couldn’t spend as much time in the junior high as I wanted to,” he said.
For most high school coaches, getting down to the junior high to work with players is a major component in offseason development. However, because of his duties as athletic director, that was hard to do.
“In the spring, I’d have something to do almost every night,” he said.
His family also played a role in his decision.
For the past year, he’s thought about stepping down after Logan played his final game, which happened March 3 in the Sectional 23 championship game at Norwell High School.
Sticking around to coach his oldest son proved to be a nice experience, as Logan wrapped up his career with 2,230 points, the 12th most in Indiana boys basketball history.
Logan will be playing at Stetson University, near Daytona, Fla., next season, so dad may be able to watch him play a couple times — if possible.
“I’ll be able to see him play more without me coaching, but as AD, I still won’t see it all that often,” he said.
Irwin also had another son on this year’s team in sophomore Keaton Irwin.
After the team got off to a 1-5 start, Rob Irwin may have gotten on Keaton a little too harshly, which can be tricky as a father/coach.
“In the beginning of the season, I think Keaton began to think I didn’t like him anymore,” Irwin said. “But as the season went along, that worked itself out.”
And while Logan will be in Florida, Rob Irwin will have some more time to spend with Keaton and the rest of his family.
“I will have time to spend with Keaton, Logan and my two little ones, as well as my wife occasionally,” Irwin said. “Something just had to give.”
During his seven years at Whitko, Irwin went 72-81, winning a sectional title in 2009 and two Three Rivers Conference championships (2008-09, 2010-11).
Prior to coaching at Whitko, Irwin spent 10 seasons at Carroll High School (Allen), leaving him with an overall record of 202-169.
After 17 seasons, he’s going to be stepping away, but not out.
“I know I’ll coach again,” he said. “I don’t know when it will be again. I just know it’s not here and now.”
For Whitko, right here and now, it’s searching for a new coach, and the process is in full swing.
“We’ve been taking applications, because the word gets out (about me resigning),” Irwin said. “Once it became official, we can start interviews and probably close things by April 13. After that, we’ll take a week or so to go over things, with the plan to find someone by the end of April.”[[In-content Ad]]
After mulling the decision over all season, coach Rob Irwin decided to resign as boys basketball coach this month and had his request approved at Monday night’s Whitko School Board meeting.
Irwin cited his responsibility as the school’s athletic director as a major reason for stepping down as coach.
“It had gotten to the point where I couldn’t spend as much time in the junior high as I wanted to,” he said.
For most high school coaches, getting down to the junior high to work with players is a major component in offseason development. However, because of his duties as athletic director, that was hard to do.
“In the spring, I’d have something to do almost every night,” he said.
His family also played a role in his decision.
For the past year, he’s thought about stepping down after Logan played his final game, which happened March 3 in the Sectional 23 championship game at Norwell High School.
Sticking around to coach his oldest son proved to be a nice experience, as Logan wrapped up his career with 2,230 points, the 12th most in Indiana boys basketball history.
Logan will be playing at Stetson University, near Daytona, Fla., next season, so dad may be able to watch him play a couple times — if possible.
“I’ll be able to see him play more without me coaching, but as AD, I still won’t see it all that often,” he said.
Irwin also had another son on this year’s team in sophomore Keaton Irwin.
After the team got off to a 1-5 start, Rob Irwin may have gotten on Keaton a little too harshly, which can be tricky as a father/coach.
“In the beginning of the season, I think Keaton began to think I didn’t like him anymore,” Irwin said. “But as the season went along, that worked itself out.”
And while Logan will be in Florida, Rob Irwin will have some more time to spend with Keaton and the rest of his family.
“I will have time to spend with Keaton, Logan and my two little ones, as well as my wife occasionally,” Irwin said. “Something just had to give.”
During his seven years at Whitko, Irwin went 72-81, winning a sectional title in 2009 and two Three Rivers Conference championships (2008-09, 2010-11).
Prior to coaching at Whitko, Irwin spent 10 seasons at Carroll High School (Allen), leaving him with an overall record of 202-169.
After 17 seasons, he’s going to be stepping away, but not out.
“I know I’ll coach again,” he said. “I don’t know when it will be again. I just know it’s not here and now.”
For Whitko, right here and now, it’s searching for a new coach, and the process is in full swing.
“We’ve been taking applications, because the word gets out (about me resigning),” Irwin said. “Once it became official, we can start interviews and probably close things by April 13. After that, we’ll take a week or so to go over things, with the plan to find someone by the end of April.”[[In-content Ad]]
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