Commentary: Still waiting for Rocket coach

Rock Falls High School's Athletic Director hopes to recommend a new boys basketball coach to the school board at the next meeting at 7 p.m. on August 18. (SVN File Photo)

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When I last spoke with Rich Montgomery back in April, Rock Falls High School's athletic director said the process for hiring a new boys basketball coach might take awhile.

At that point, Mike Winters had stepped aside for family reasons, but was keeping his position as RFHS' alternative-school teacher.

That left Montgomery with an open coaching position, but no open teaching positions for coaching candidates.

As the summer progressed, coaching positions around the area were filled.

Amboy made a strong hire, bringing in former Burlington Central and Mount Carroll coach Chris Payne for its boys hoops opening.

Morrison filled its baseball spot, Dixon filled volleyball and girls basketball positions, and Newman hired a new volleyball coach.

Through it all, mum was the word from Rock Falls.

The rumors that floated around included names like former Rockets varsity assistant Dave Peugh, former Bureau Valley coach Brad Bickett, former LaSalle-Peru coach Scott Olson and Rock Falls sophomore coach Mike Menchaca.

Every now and then, I'd leave a message for Montgomery to see how things we're going.

On Wednesday, 3 1/2 months after Winters resigned, Montgomery offered a statement on the basketball job.

"We hope to make a recommendation at the August board meeting," Montgomery said.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. August 18 at Rock Falls High School.

From that message, I can infer that a decision has yet to be made, but that Montgomery expects to make one soon.

An advertisement printed last week in the Gazette and Telegraph says Rock Falls is looking for an alternative-school teacher. A requirement for the position is an interest in coaching boys basketball. Apparently, the school district has a little more to offer potential coaches than it did when the position opened initially.

That advertisement also seems to indicate that whoever gets the job will be an employee of the Rock Falls School District.

That would eliminate Peugh, a former player and assistant coach at Rock Falls until 2006, and an assistant at Sterling for the next three seasons. He has confirmed applying for the head coach position the past three times it was available.

Peugh is the choice of a vocal segment of Rocket Nation; a petition has been circulated by some fans and former players in support of him.

For now, hoops fans can only speculate about who will take the reins of the Sauk Valley's flagship basketball program.

Maybe it'll be one of the names above. Maybe it won't.

On August 18, we hope to find out.