Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊWhitko High School approved the hiring of Rob Bell as its new girls basketball coach at Monday's school board meeting.
Bell replaces Ryan Cunningham, who was 17-66 in his four-year tenure at Whitko.
Bell, 31, is a graduate of Garrett High School and IPFW.
Bell spent the past four seasons as an assistant under Wayne Krieger at Columbia City High School.
Krieger was recently inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle.
"Coaching under Coach Krieger and dealing with him and his family was a blessing," said Bell. "I saw the way he approaches the game and life. I think it gives me credibility with the girls (at Whitko)," said Bell.
Bell will be assisted in the 2006-2007 season by Randy Sands and Dee Dee Maggert. Sands will be the junior varsity coach while Maggert will be the freshman coach and a varsity assistant.
"It's pretty exciting," said Bell of his new coaching job. "The kids have worked hard in open gym and we have a couple seniors who have really stepped up."
This is Bell's first head coaching position.
Bell will continue his job as a science teacher at Columbia City High School. Bell is married to Lori and the couple have two sons, Dalton, 6, and Brady, 3.
Whitko opens the season with a scrimmage against Bell's alma mater, Garrett and then starts regular season play against Central Noble.
The Wildcats finished 5-16 overall last year and 2-5 in the Three Rivers Conference.
Whitko returns most of its scoring from last year's squad. The Wildcats graduated Times-Union All-Area team member Jayanna Begley.
Whitko will return junior Jennaca Juillerat who led the team in scoring at 9.4 points per game.
The Wildcats also will welcome back Jamie Westness and Ashley Hoopingarner, both spent much of last year injured.
