Whitko Hires Irwin, Warsaw Coaches Step Down
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
After much speculation, former Carroll (Fort Wayne) head boys basketball coach Rob Irwin was hired at Whitko High School as head boys basketball coach and athletic director during a school corporation board of trustees work session Tuesday.
Irwin, who compiled a 129-79 record at Carroll with two sectional and two regional championships, was an assistant coach at Whitko High School from 1989-1994 under Bill Patrick.
Irwin takes over coaching duties from Larry Lael, who stepped in shortly before the 2004-2005 season on an interim basis, and the athletic director position from Fred Fields, who also served his post on an interim basis.
Fields said his motive for stepping down from the athletic director's position was to get back into the classroom.
Irwin was believed by many to be the frontrunner for both posts, considering his ties to the community and a lack of stability in the boys basketball program.
A June 22 press release from Whitko High School concerning the Wildcats' boys basketball camp listed Irwin as the contact number and he has also been running open gyms at Whitko.
Irwin will become the sixth head coach for Whitko in 11 years since Patrick left.
The Wildcats went 4-17 last season and started their campaign with a nine-game losing streak.
Attempts to contact Irwin were unsuccessful.
Warsaw will be looking for a new head baseball coach, as Will Shepherd gave his resignation to the Warsaw Athletic Department Tuesday, citing wanting to spend more time with family as the reason for his decision. Shepherd took over for Jim Dermody in 1996 as head coach after eight years as an assistant and won sectional titles in 1996 and 2003.
Shepherd will remain a health teacher at WCHS and an assistant football coach for Troy Akers.
The Tigers will also be in search of a new softball coach, as Scott Freds recently handed in his resignation. Freds, in just two years, turned a Warsaw program around and into a contender in the Northern Lakes Conference. Freds compiled a 9-18 record in his first year and an 18-8 mark his second year as the Tigers lost to East Noble in the opener of the Columbia City Sectional. Freds also cited family as his reason for resignation. [[In-content Ad]]
After much speculation, former Carroll (Fort Wayne) head boys basketball coach Rob Irwin was hired at Whitko High School as head boys basketball coach and athletic director during a school corporation board of trustees work session Tuesday.
Irwin, who compiled a 129-79 record at Carroll with two sectional and two regional championships, was an assistant coach at Whitko High School from 1989-1994 under Bill Patrick.
Irwin takes over coaching duties from Larry Lael, who stepped in shortly before the 2004-2005 season on an interim basis, and the athletic director position from Fred Fields, who also served his post on an interim basis.
Fields said his motive for stepping down from the athletic director's position was to get back into the classroom.
Irwin was believed by many to be the frontrunner for both posts, considering his ties to the community and a lack of stability in the boys basketball program.
A June 22 press release from Whitko High School concerning the Wildcats' boys basketball camp listed Irwin as the contact number and he has also been running open gyms at Whitko.
Irwin will become the sixth head coach for Whitko in 11 years since Patrick left.
The Wildcats went 4-17 last season and started their campaign with a nine-game losing streak.
Attempts to contact Irwin were unsuccessful.
Warsaw will be looking for a new head baseball coach, as Will Shepherd gave his resignation to the Warsaw Athletic Department Tuesday, citing wanting to spend more time with family as the reason for his decision. Shepherd took over for Jim Dermody in 1996 as head coach after eight years as an assistant and won sectional titles in 1996 and 2003.
Shepherd will remain a health teacher at WCHS and an assistant football coach for Troy Akers.
The Tigers will also be in search of a new softball coach, as Scott Freds recently handed in his resignation. Freds, in just two years, turned a Warsaw program around and into a contender in the Northern Lakes Conference. Freds compiled a 9-18 record in his first year and an 18-8 mark his second year as the Tigers lost to East Noble in the opener of the Columbia City Sectional. Freds also cited family as his reason for resignation. [[In-content Ad]]