Thurgood Marshall graduation 2012
Badin vs. Versailles
Law Enforcement Memorial Day
Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2011 > April > 14
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Why would Robertson leave Springfield for Oakwood? It’s personal
OAKWOOD - Let’s be blunt. Why would Rick Robertson resign as the head football coach at emerging D-I power Springfield High School to take over at Oakwood?
From a purely athletic spin - let alone a drop to D-IV - that makes no sense.
“And I’m sure it will be that way for the majority of the public,” Robertson said on Thursday after landing the Lumberjacks job.
The answer: It’s personal.
Robertson’s wife Carol has been afflicted with multiple sclerosis since his days as Fairmont’s athletic director. Rick, 56, is a full-time spousal caregiver. He resigned from teaching at Springfield in March and has been on unpaid medical leave since.
The Robertsons still reside in Kettering, only minutes from Oakwood’s Mack Hummon Field.
“The situation with my wife, that’s really the driving factor about this,” Robertson said.
“(Oakwood) is a five-minute drive from my house. It’s a win-win situation for my wife and a win for Oakwood in getting a veteran coach.”
Robertson has been a head coach a combined 22 seasons at Springfield North, Fairmont and Springfield. He also was Fairmont’s AD for 11 years.
“Our student/athletes will not only acquire a tremendous amount of football knowledge, they will learn valuable life lessons from him,” said Oakwood AD Mark Hughes.
Oakwood’s entire coaching staff resigned following the resignation of veteran coach Paul Stone last month. Robertson hopes to lure some of those coaches back and land available coaching buddies.
Springfield’s loss is Oakwood’s gain.
“It was a surprise,” Springfield AD Mark Stoll said. “Anytime you lose a coach of his magnitude it’s a surprise.
“I was aware of his family situation. It’s an opportunity for him to coach right there near his home.”
Robertson’s resignation was a double-whammy for Springfield. Earlier this week girls varsity basketball coach Wynette Carter also resigned.
“It’s been a busy week to say the least,” said Stoll.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: New football coach
TweetRobertson leaves Springfield to become Oakwood’s head coach
OAKWOOD - Rick Robertson has been hired as Oakwood High School’s new football coach. He replaces Paul Stone, who resigned that position but kept his boys varsity basketball position last month.
Robertson was Springfield’s head football coach the last three seasons following the merger of North and South high schools. Prior to that, he was Fairmont’s athletic director and the Firebirds’ head football coach from 1991-02.
He also was the head football coach at Springfield North from 1984-90.
“I’m excited about this new chapter in my life and the opportunities at Oakwood High School,” he said in a statement.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: New football coach
TweetBaker resigns from Trotwood; Ladd to follow
TROTWOOD — If Trotwood-Madison is to continue its ultra successful boys high school basketball run, it will be without Mark Baker.
Baker resigned this week as the Rams’ head coach. And that isn’t the only high-profile T-M position that needs filling: Athletic director Jim Ladd will retire in June.
“It’s kind of bittersweet for me,” Baker said on Thursday. “There’s some schooling that I want to finish. This is the right time for me to step away from basketball and do that.”
Baker waffled about keeping the position or pursuing other career opportunities last week. He is seeking a master’s degree. He spent three seasons with the Rams.
“Mark Baker resigned by choice,” Trotwood principal Terry Logan said. “It kind of takes me by surprise. We realized we’re losing a very popular coach.”
For the rest of this story, see Friday’s Dayton Daily News.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys basketball
Tweet
