Coaching search continues at Jefferson, Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Chuck McDonnell would like to have an athletics director in place at Cedar Rapids Jefferson before selecting a girls' basketball coach.

But, he said, it's not a must that it happen that way.

"I don't want to lose any good coaching candidates," McDonnell -- the Jefferson principal -- said Monday. "I don't want to wait too long."

McDonnell is one of two Metro officials in the process of hiring a girls' basketball coach. Kennedy Athletics Director Aaron Stecker is the other.

Stecker announced the "retirement" of Coach Dennis Roloff a couple weeks ago. He wants to have a replacement in place by mid-April, saying he is focusing this week on hiring a wrestling coach.

"I have had some inquiries," he said. "If the interviews go well, I hope to have a hire by the end of next week."

McDonnell said he has had three interviews for the AD job, with a couple more to go.

"If we have an AD in place, he will be part of the interview (committee) for the girls' coach," McDonnell said.

Larry Niemeyer stepped down at Jefferson two weeks ago after coaching 34 years. Niemeyer intends to coach softball this season, and possibly beyond.