HANNIBAL — The expression that ‘knowledge is power’ applies to all facets of life.

Run through the list of careers and there isn’t one where a person can know too much or ever quit learning in his or her craft.

As it pertains to sports and specifically high school coaches, the learning, evolving and keeping up with changes that are occurring in education-based athletics knows no end.

The Switzerland of Ohio School District has recognized this and is attempting to do it’s part to help not only help the coaches at Beallsville, Monroe Central and River High Schools, but is opening its doors to help coaches from throughout the Ohio Valley.

It’s first step in this is by hosting its inaugural Switzerland of Ohio Coaching School on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at River High School. This school will feature four speakers and be aimed at the upcoming winter sports season.

The coaching schools were the brainchild of current Switzerland of Ohio Schools Superintendent Phil Ackerman, who took over his role on July 1, 2021.

“Education-based athletics is part of what we do,” Ackerman said. “And our school communities are like others to where we support our sports programs. So, we’re looking at opportunities for our coaches to have a conversation with great coaches who have been successful in building programs.”

Mark Romick — the Director of Athletics and head boys basketball coach at River — is serving as the host of the initial coaching school. He believes these schools could be tremendous opportunities for coaches to enhance their skills just in time for the winter sports seasons to get under way, which officially happens just a few weeks following the coaching school.

“No coach is ever done learning,” Romick said. “Anyone who thinks they know everything is in trouble.”

Indeed.

The coaching schools, while not required for Switzerland of Ohio coaches, are being “recommended” and are open to schools throughout the area.

“We’re inviting coaches from Belmont, Noble and Washington Counties and really anyone in the area is welcome to attend,” Ackerman said. “We want people to have the opportunity to network and have a conversation with other coaches. Not all coaches get the opportunity to be right there with a coach who has been very successful in terms of building a program and sustaining it.”

To say the speakers have been very successful in coaching would be shortchanging their actual accomplishments. Considering that all four speakers have been inducted to at least one hall of fame is quite telling.

Former Hiland girls basketball coach Dave Schlabach, who posted a ridiculous 689-99 career record and won six state championships and finished runnerup five times, will serve as the keynote speaker.

Schlabach will address the entire group of attendees from 6 until 6:45 p.m. and then the group will be broken down into more sport-specific groups from 7 p.m. until 8:15.

Former Skyvue boys basketball coach and baseball coach Mark Huffman, who is a member of the Ohio Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, led the Hawks to the 1985 state title game in boys basketball and then the baseball state championship that spring. He will be speaking to the boys basketball coaches in the break-out sessions.

Dr. Vince Monseau, who spent 32 years as the head wrestling coach at West Liberty where he coached 72 All-Americans and six national champions, will speak to the wrestling coaches.

Kenny Campanizzi, who oversees the OVAC and East Ohio Bowling League, will speak to the bowling coaches.

“The whole thought process was to get coaches who can talk about the entire program,” Romick said. “We didn’t just want a specialized area — like a shooting coach. All of these coaches can talk about the whole program. All of these guys were on board immediately to speak.”

After the coaches break down into specific groups, the coaches will get into more Xs and Os and drill-type stuff that coaches would hear at a coaching clinic.

While it’s geared toward educational-based athletics, both Ackerman and Romick indicated that youth-sport coaches are welcomed and encouraged to attend, too. After all, many schools — especially today — have coaches on their staffs at all levels who are not school faculty members.

“We want to support coaches as they build and develop (programs and athletes) all the way through,” Ackerman said. “We want to support them and help to make sure they enjoy their work, have fun and still be successful in building and sustaining a program.”

With the winter sports coaching school moving forward, Switzerland of Ohio Schools are already working on the spring coaching school, which will be held at Beallsville High School. Monroe Central will host one for fall sports in the spring.

“We want to continue to support coaches and programs and we’re hopeful that this (coaching school) will continue to grow and get better as we move along,” Ackerman said. “We have a great lineup of coaches for the winter one and we’re appreciative of River for hosting.”

AREA PRODUCTS HONORED

Area graduates Emily Holzopfel (Buckeye Local) and Hannah Kemp (Union Local) were honored by the Mountain East Conference women’s golfer and women’s cross country runner of the week.

Holzopfel, who plays for Wheeling University, was co-champion of the Cardinals first tournament of the season with a two-round score of 3-over par at the Charleston Invitational.

Kemp, who runs for West Liberty University, earned her award after she won the Bethany College Invitational with a time of 24:03.