FR board approves Roessner (07/02/03)

FORT RECOVERY — The Fort Recovery School Board made the hiring of Jeff Roessner official this morning, approving him to become the next leader of the Indians’ girls basketball program.

Roessner, like all coaches in the state of Ohio, was signed to a one-year contract. He takes over for seven-year coach Lynn Hughes, who resigned last month.

“We’re certainly happy to get the person who’s going to run that program under contract,” said Fort Recovery principal Ed Snyder. “I’m sure he’ll have a lot of planning to do.

“I know he’s anxious to get started, get with the girls and get things going so they can be prepared when the season gets here.”

“I’m glad to have the opportunity to do it,” said Roessner, a Fort Recovery resident. “I’ve coached here at Fort Recovery before. I’m excited about the players that are coming up and the challenges that are in front of us.”

Roessner said that while he needs to meet with his players and discuss goals for the upcoming season and the future of the program, one thing does stand out. He said he hopes to improve the team’s record in the Midwest Athletic Conference, a league widely regarded as one of the best in the state.

Fort Recovery has not won an MAC title in girls basketball since 1991 — Hughes’ senior season on the team — the same year it won the second of its back-to-back state titles.

Roessner was the boys basketball coach when that team won its last conference title in 1993. He went 34-11 in his two full seasons at the helm of the Tribe, and said he is ready to get back to the sidelines.

“I’ve always loved coaching,” said Roessner, who had planned to work as an assistant under new boys coach Brian Patch before the girls job became vacant. “For the first time in 25 years I have enough time to dedicate to this. I’ve always had a love of the game and a love of the sport.”[[In-content Ad]]