Miami Trace seeks new football coach

By RYAN CARTER

and CHRIS HOPPES

OCM Media

Following Mike Bernard’s resignation, the search for the new Miami Trace head varsity football coach has begun.

On the same day that the Miami Trace school board accepted Bernard’s resignation, the district announced Tuesday that they will be accepting applications from internal candidates first and then external candidates. Superintendent Dan Roberts said he anticipates that a coach will be in place by late January or early February.

Co-athletic director Aaron Hammond explained the procedure for selecting the next head coach for Miami Trace.

“The head coaching position has been officially posted in-house, as is required by our union contract,” Hammond said. “The posting will last for 10 days, from Dec. 13 through Dec. 22.

“After Dec. 22, we are free to post the position outside the district, which we plan to do for a little over two weeks,” Hammond said. “We’re looking at our external posting ending on or about Jan. 16.

“After the internal and external posting has ended, our search committee will go through the applications and select those (applicants) that we are looking to interview for the position,” Hammond said.

“We do want a coach in place as quickly as possible,” Hammond said. “However, we’re not going to rush through this and possibly miss on a good candidate for our district.”

The coaching candidates will be interviewed by the committee. Once a selection is made, that person will be recommended to the superintendent, who will bring the recommendation to the board of education.

Bernard, who had been the head coach since 2008, submitted his letter of resignation on Dec. 1. The Miami Trace graduate compiled an 18-22 record during his four years as coach. He was an assistant under former head coach Jeff Conroy for 18 years.

Bernard’s record through the years: 2008: 6-4 overall, 4-2 SCOL (placed third); 2009: 5-5 overall, 4-2 SCOL (tied for second); 2010: 2-8 overall, 2-4 SCOL (placed fifth); 2011: 5-5 overall, 4-2 SCOL (tied for second).

Bernard will remain in the Miami Trace Local School District as a math teacher at the high school.

“I would like to thank Mike Bernard, his family and his staff for their years of service to Miami Trace,” Roberts said. “He felt that it was best for him and his family to step down at this time. He was very gracious to the district for having the opportunity to lead young men onto the football field. Everything he’s done at this district has been done with class and character.”