CENTRAL CATHOLIC BASKETBALL COACH RESIGNS

From Keith Groller

Kyle Kern has resigned as the boys basketball coach at Central Catholic.

Assistant Jim Rodgers, who filled in for Kern as coach two years ago when he underwent major heart surgery, will again take over the job at least for the rest of the season. CCHS plays at Easton tonight in a game I had planned to cover even before learning about this change.

I have yet to get official word on this from CCHS, but Kern, contacted by cell phone late Thursday afternoon confirmed the resignation and said: "I am just very disappointed with the way things evolved. That's about the best way I can put it. I know I can do the job. I wanted to do the job and hopefully I will get another opportunity one day to build my own program. I don't want to do or say anything else that would embarrass the school."

CCHS had been struggling this year with a 5-6 record overall, 2-3 LVC. Last year, the Vikings were a disappointing 8-14. In his third season, Kern's record stood at 18-28.

I have always liked Kyle as a person. He has been through a lot in his life and is a good soul, a very kind person who loves the game of basketball and always gave 100 percent to any endeavor.

However, I do know there has been considerable discontent among many players and their families who have expressed themselves to me in a variety of ways, including via comments on this blog. It's tough to coach kids when they don't like you, and sadly, that may have been the case here.

On Tuesday night, I was told -- and Kern confirmed this -- he received a technical foul for knocking the ball out of the hands of Becahi star Al Blount, Jr., late during a 59-50 loss to the Golden Hawks.

"It was inadvertent," Kern said. "I was moving my hands and it's a tight floor at Becahi. It just happened. I didn't do it on purpose and it was definitely not malicious."

I hope that Kyle will get another chance somewhere, some day and I am sorry it had to come down to a mid-season departure for him.

We'll hopefully get more comments and information on this change at the game tonight.

Keith Groller