By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – A Lenoir-Rhyne University official confirmed this week the seven football coaches who are listed on the school’s athletic website remain employed by the Bears.
In responding to an earlier e-mail inquiry from HobbsDailyReport.com that asked if answers to a series of questions about LRU football and its open head football coaching position were available, Angela Reiter – the school’s director of marketing and communication – indicated on Thursday only one question could be answered.
She confirmed the coaches listed and pictured on the school’s athletic website with the football program’s roster – interim head coach David Cone, Aaron Brock, Arketa Banks, plus graduate assistants Jawan Turner, Aaron Terry, Cameron Clark and Michael DeStephens – constitute the current coaching staff.
LRU’s marketing and communication department – rather than its athletic department or sports information office – will handle all inquiries related to the Bears’ search for a new head football coach, Reiter said in an earlier e-mail.
There have been no press releases related to football posted on LRU’s athletic website since a Nov. 16 report about a player earning academic honors.
The press release announcing the school’s decision to change head football coaches has not appeared on the athletic website at any time.
The Bears fired head coach Mike Kellar, who had just completed his second season, on Nov. 15. In a press release announcing the decision, school officials said a national search for a new head football coach would begin immediately.
The next day, LRU’s athletic director, Kim Pate, forwarded a request for an interview by HobbsDailyReport.com regarding the firing and other football-related matters to Reiter.
Reiter indicated the school had no additional comment and said by e-mail on Thursday there are no developments to report.
Soon after Kellar was fired, profiles and information about him and assistant coaches Brian Hill, Mike Lopez, Bob McClain, Mitch Harrison and Jeremy Harmer were no longer on the school’s athletic website.
One of the questions asked by HobbsDailyReport.com was if those five assistants remained employed by the school.
Kellar was not quoted in the press release announcing his firing. On Nov. 18, he tweeted a comment thanking the school for his two years as head coach.