By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
THE QUESTIONS
The questions HobbsDailyReport.com has asked of LRU officials through the school’s marketing and communication department. As of Friday night, the department has declined comment on all of the questions but E:
A) Is there a time frame or hope of a time frame regarding the hiring of a new head football coach; i.e. if it is anticipated to be a decision reached in this calendar year or will it go into 2018?
B) Is there an established process for a national coaching search; i.e. a systematic way that LRU routinely approaches all head coaching hires or anything that would provide the army of LRU supporters and alumni to have a feel for how the school approaches this task?
C) Will the interim head coach be made available for an interview, at any point, about what is involved with being in a position like that — the things that are pertinent to the job and necessary steps in a college football program — or will others in the athletic department provide that guidance to assure all NCAA (and other) year-ending things are taken care of?
D) Can you clarify if other individuals on the 2017 football coaching staff — those no longer listed as football staff personnel on the school athletic website — have chosen to end their employment, are considering returning or if their positions are open and will likewise be filled at some point in this search?
E) Are the individuals still listed (and pictured) on the athletic website as football staff all still with LRU at this time?
F) Will the interim head coach lead the communication and finalization of incoming freshman football recruits? Will he coordinate efforts and work with those who have announced they have signed with LRU for 2018?
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.
CONE
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.