By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport Central Catholic is looking for a new boys head basketball coach to replace Ken Collopy, who was recently named principal at St. Cecelia Elementary School in Independence.
NewCath had a 46-45 record in Collopy’s three seasons as head coach. His first team was runner-up in the 2017 All “A” Classic small-school state tournament and finished with a 21-13 record.
The Thoroughbreds posted a 9-19 record last season with mostly underclassmen in the starting lineup. One of them was junior forward Evan Mullikin, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds.
“We thank Kenny for his dedication to our students as teacher and coach,” NewCath principal Ron Dawn said in a post on the school website. “Kenny is a good Christian role model, motivator and mentor.”
NewCath is one of four Northern Kentucky high schools that will have new boys head basketball coaches next season. The others are Walton-Verona (Mike Hester), Dayton (Ron Kinmon) and Ryle (Keaton Belcher).
Conner, Calvary join teams on girls basketball coaching carousel
The head coaching carousel in Northern Kentucky girls high school basketball continued with Michelle Gambrel taking over the Conner program and Isaac Spiecher resigning at Calvary Christian.
Gambrel, a former Conner player, was promoted from assistant to head coach to replace Aaron Stamm, who resigned a few weeks ago to become head coach at Ludlow. Four starters on the Conner team that posted a 29-3 record have graduated.
Speicher is leaving Calvary Christian to become a varsity assistant coach at Scott, according to his post on Twitter. As head coach of the Cougars the last four years, his teams compiled a 54-60 record. The top two scorers on this year’s team are returning.
Seven local high schools will have new girls head basketball coaches next season. St. Henry and Calvary Christian have not yet filled their positions yet. The five schools who have are Scott (Steve Brown), Campbell County (Nolan Boone), Holmes (Allisa Brown), Ludlow (Aaron Stamm) and Conner (Michelle Gambrel).
Beechwood grad on Louisville team going to College World Series
Beechwood graduate Ethan Stringer is a junior outfielder on the University of Louisville baseball team that qualified for the NCAA College World Series for the fifth time in program history.
Stringer has played in 48 games, including 21 as a starter, for the 49-16 Cardinals, who will open the tournament with a game against Vanderbilt at 2 p.m. Sunday in Omaha, Neb. He is batting .216 (17 of 78) with eight RBI and 11 runs scored.