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BOURBON - Kevin O'Rourke, who has turned the Triton boys basketball program into one of the toughest class A schools to play in the state, has resigned to take the head coaching job at South Dearborn High School, near Cincinnati.
Under O'Rourke, Triton went 16-6 during the 1996-97 season and almost upset Warsaw at the Tiger Den in sectional action despite falling behind 22-0 to start the game.
Although O'Rourke's record at Triton was just 36-30 over three seasons, he always had his team prepared come sectional time. In his first year, the Trojans opened the year 1-5 before going 9-5 over its final 14 games. In '96-97, the Trojans won a first-round sectional game before the nightmare against Warsaw. This past season, Triton won its final four games and a first round sectional game, before bowing to Michigan City Marquette.
Triton athletic director Mike Byron's only timetable for hiring a new coach is "as soon as possible." With school beginning shortly, there is not much time for a new coach to get into the school system to begin teaching and learning about his team.
Byron, however, said that the timing of the resignation is not going to be a crutch to the basketball program's success.
"I don't think so," Byron said. "We have to be looking for a qualified person to do some teaching. Kevin left the program in good condition. Whoever we get won't have to build the program up. We're looking for someone to provide stability and to help the team continue to grow."
