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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2019)
Cottage Grove Sentinel Sports & Recreation SOUTH LANE COUNTY SPORTS AND RECREATION Myers named athletic director at CGHS • • WEDNESDAY | JUNE 26, 2019 B1 CONTACT SPORTS EDITOR ZACH SILVA AT 942-3325 OR ZSILVA@CGSENTINEL.COM Coaching search continues for CGHS Aft er 14 years in 4J, Myers heads to South Lane By Zach Silva zsilva@cgsentinel.com While working at Churchill High School, Matt Myers did a lit- tle bit of everything. He managed online, AP and state testing; he made sure students were on track to grad- uate; he assisted the ad- ministration; he helped with scholarships. “It was kind of a mish- mash. It was licensed position, but it was a very unique one,” said Myers refl ecting on his last two years at CHS. “I didn’t do a lot of one thing, but I did a variety of stuff .” Myers has worked in the 4J District for the last 14 years. In that time he was also a mid- dle school math teacher for eight years, a teach- er on special assign- ment, which put him at schools around the dis- trict, and also coached track and cross coun- try. Th at variety of both interest and skills has all led to Myers being named assistant prin- cipal/athletic director at Cottage Grove High School. “I think we have someone that really more than has the po- tential to be not only the assistant principal looking at that side of that but also being fair and consistent with the athletic department,” said South Lane School District superintendent Larry Sullivan about Myers at the June 17 school board meeting. “So I’m pleased with Matt doing that. He comes across with a lot of integrity and an ex- ceptional background, that’s who he is.” Myers, who fi rst came to know the district as a substitute teacher at Lincoln Middle School and CGHS around 2004, has been interest- ed in getting into an ad- ministrative role. When the position came open at CGHS, he knew it was the right fi t. He was drawn in by everything from the convenience of the commute while still living in Eugene to high graduation rates in the district to community support for athletics. “I was ready for a challenge, this job got posted and I was just like, I have to apply for this job,” said Myers. “I couldn’t pass it up.” Th e position of assis- tant principal/athletic director became avail- able aft er Gary Roberts announced he would be heading Marshfi eld High School to be the as- sistant principal. While Myers got a chance to see Roberts before he is leaving SLSD, he was last with him as Roberts was heading to SLSD. “We taught summer school together a cou- ple years. When he was back at Sheldon and ac- CGHS see B3 Former Cottage Grove High School football head coach Gary Roberts talks with his team after a practice last fall. The Lions are looking to hire a new football coach within the next few weeks. PHOTO BY ZACH SILVA/CG SENTINEL Hiring a head football coach is a top priority for the new administration By Zach Silva zsilva@cgsentinel.com Th e Cottage Grove High School head football coaching search took an important next step in the pro- cess: the hiring of a principal and athletic director/assistant principal at the school. Last week, the two positions were fi lled by Kevin Herington as principal and Matt Myers as ath- letic director/assistant principal, which means the Lions are now on track to hire a new coach. With the departure of current principal Mike Ingman and as- sistant principal/athletic director Gary Roberts from CGHS, com- bined with Jordan Johnson step- ping down as head coach aft er being hired in February, the ad- ministration wanted to let the new administration make their own call on the head coaching position - with some assistance. “We posted the job, we’ve done interviews and now we’ve forward- ed that on – it’s sitting in a pack- et waiting to be handed to a new principal for him or her to look at the recommendations of the com- mittee and make a decision from there,” said Roberts. “Whether he or she wants to do the fi rst choice, the second choice, open it back up, that’s up to him or her and Matt Myers, the new athletic director.” Myers, who was present during the interviews, stressed the impor- tance of making the right decision. “When we hire the new princi- pal, that’s going to be one of the fi rst conversations I have with them. Here are some folks, we need to make a decision because I know the community is feeling anxious, un- derstandably anxious because it’s a big one,” said Myers last Th ursday, before Herington was announced as principal. Th e hiring committee included an assistant football coach, a par- ent, a current football player, an ad- ministrator and a building employ- ee. And in that group, Myers was keen on deferring to the judgement of those who have been around the program. “Whatever I recommend is going to be what you guys want. Th at’s go- ing to drive most of my decisions. I haven’t been here for three, fi ve, seven, 10 years and so when a par- ent or player or staff member says, ‘I like this candidate,’ I’m going to go with that,” said Myers. Th e decision on the new head coach is expected to be made in the two weeks which, Roberts notes, will keep the Lions on track. “I think if you can get some- body on board by the beginning of July when the summer weight stuff starts happening aft er July 4, that’s probably pretty good,” he said “Probably the biggest challenge for whoever comes in, the immediate challenge is, the two things that jump out to me are building a staff and getting the kids rallied back. ‘Hey, alright, we’ve got new coach- es, let’s get together, let’s get going.’” Roberts coached the Lions for the last 11 seasons and announced he was stepping down from the head coaching position last Jan- uary. In April he announced his departure from the school at the end of the year and he is heading to Coos Bay to be assistant principal at his alma mater, Marshfi eld. In February, Johnson, who has been a key part of the CGHS coach- ing staff for the last three seasons, was brought on to be head coach. In early June, the head coaching position was posted on the district website as Johnson is now heading to Eugene to be an assistant coach at Sheldon and, according to Rob- erts, he will also be teaching math at the school. “Th ere’s a lot of knowns (at Shel- don) and with the administration shakeup here, there’s a lot of un- knowns. I’d say there are a variety of things that played into it,” said Roberts. “Jordan went through the process, they off ered him a job and he just felt like it was a better fi t for him and his family moving for- ward. Th ese things happen.” Low water levels at Dorena Reservoir prompt early removal of boats As the water level drops in Dorena Reservoir, Lane County Parks is informing moorage holders and boat- ers who use the Baker Bay Marina that they must re- move their boats from the water by July 17. “As the water level con- tinues to decline we want boaters to be aware that unfortunately it will be a short boating season, and we don’t want people with Boats in Dorena Reservoir must be removed by July 17. Athletes of the Week An update on fi shing information in local bodies of water Th is week’s athletes of the week are the South Valley Little League All-Stars. Th e 9-10-11 team won districts and is heading to state. larger boats to be stranded or have diffi culty pulling them out of the water,” said Parks Manager Brett Hen- ry. Water levels are decreas- ing as the Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates water levels at Dorena Res- ervoir, releases water to meet downstream require- ments for threatened and endangered fi sh. Baker Bay Marina Moor- Cottage Grove Pond (Row River Nature Park Pond): trout, warmwater species Was last stocked the week of April 8 with 1,500 legal-size age holders will be off ered an opportunity to trans- fer their boats to Orchard Point Marina on Fern Ridge Reservoir or receive vouchers for 50 percent of the seasonal moorage cost that can be used in 2020. Baker Bay will remain open for other recreational uses. Th e boat ramp will re- main open to smaller craft ; boaters will need to consid- er conditions before use. rainbow trout. Cottage Grove Ponds are open to year-round fi sh- ing via an asphalt pathway behind the truck scales on Row River Road. In addition to fi shing, these ponds also of- fer wildlife viewing opportunities and a fi shing dock is avail- able on-site. Cottage Grove Res- FISH see B3 The 9-10-11 All-Stars cele- brate winning districts and heading to state. PHOTO C/0 SOUTH VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE
