Whitko Basketball Coach Resigns

Whitko lost its varsity girls basketball coach before he could coach the first practice.

Twenty-five-year-old Lenny Krebs, named Whitko's varsity girls basketball coach June 21, resigned two days later.

"There were a lot of different situations that didn't fit together the way I thought they should," he said. "I didn't want to put myself in a position where I would fail the first time out as a head coach. There were a lot of things pointing in that direction."

Since 1996, Krebs has taught in the NorthWood school system at Woodview Elementary. He had contact with his Northwood employers before and after the Whitko board meeting.

He hadn't officially signed a contract with Whitko, so he stayed at Woodview as a sixth-grade teacher.

"I talked to the principal and superintendent and ironed things out at Northwood," Krebs said. "It's just that right now, I love the people I work with. I'm happy teaching where I'm at. They did guarantee me a boys basketball coaching job, and there are two openings on the high school level."

He is not up for the varsity boys basketball head coaching position. Dan Gunn holds that job.

Krebs called Whitko athletic director John Mohr. Mohr wasn't in, but Mohr returned his call.

"They were disappointed," Krebs said. "I could tell the disappointment in John's voice."

Krebs knows his timing is bad. He also knows the two weeks leading up to the Whitko board meeting were the "most stressful time" he's ever had.

"People would tell me, 'You look stressed,'" he said. "I felt bad because (the resignation) happened afterward. I was trying to convince myself coaching at Whitko was the right thing to do. It just didn't seem to be the ideal situation."

Whitko is trying to replace Ray Davis. Davis, who figured his coaching contract would not be renewed, resigned after the 1998-1999 basketball season. Whitko went 48-55 under Davis, who began coaching Whitko in 1994.

Attempts to reach Mohr at home and at school were unsuccessful.