Hosch out at Independence

INDEPENDENCE -- Lyle Hosch's career as softball coach at Independence High School reportedly is over.

The Waterloo Courier reported Tuesday that school will not renew the contract for the 61-year-old coach, who led the program for 19 years.

Rob Arnold, the school's athletics director, could not comment in the report..

'I don't have any comment on that,' he said. 'Obviously it's a personnel issue. I can't discuss the evaluation or where we ended up.'

Hosch started coaching at Independence St. John in 1980, and remained there until the school closed in 1989. He became the head coach at Independence in 1995, leading seven teams to the state tournament -- including a run of six straight from 2000 through 2005. Two of them reached the state finals.

His career record is 945-427, including 664-240 at Independence.