With an influx of coaches arriving in Athens over the past few months, Jim Schaus finally completed a deal that did not involve convincing an outsider to come to Ohio.
The Ohio athletic director announced that football coach Frank Solich has received a contract extension through the 2013 season.
Solich, who has coached at Ohio since 2004, will receive a raise increasing his salary from $257,162 to $330,000 per year plus $70,000 for fulfilling media obligations. Solich has performance incentives in his contract, Schaus said.
It's important to retain successful people
Schaus said. Investment equals return and we have to make an investment to get where we want to be.
Solich has posted a 19-18 record over his three seasons at Ohio, including a 6-6 record last season. The Bobcats open their season Aug. 30 against Wyoming.
Groce completes staff
Ohio men's basketball coach John Groce completed his coaching staff with the hires of assistant coaches Dustin Ford, Chris Holtmann and Jamall Walker.
Ford played at Ohio under current Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter from 1997 to 2001. He had served under Hunter as Western Carolina's associate head coach. Ford is also the brother of former Ohio player and new Kent State coach Geno Ford.
Holtmann had worked as an assistant coach at Gardner Webb for five seasons, including four as the associate head coach.
Walker, a former player at St. Louis, coached at Murray State last season.
The addition of the three coaches to Groce's staff means that former assistants John Rhodes, Kevin Kuwik and Bacari Alexander will not be retained. Alexander has already accepted an assistant coaching position for Western Michigan.
New softball coach
Schaus also has named former Southern Utah coach Jodi Hermanek Ohio's new softball coach.
Hermanek coached at Southern Utah for four seasons, reaching the NCAA Tournament twice out of the Mid-Continent Conference. She replaces former coach Jill Matyuch, who left Ohio to coach high school softball in California.
I think Jodi brings experience to our program Schaus said. She has energy and enthusiasm to win conference championships.
17
Archives
Steve Gartner
200807248449midsize.jpeg
