Lebanon High School IHSA athletic director resigns his post

LEBANON

One of many cornerstones of the Lebanon Excessive College athletic division for almost 20 years, Chad Cruthis has introduced his resignation because the Greyhounds athletic director, efficient July 1.

Cruthis, who turns 49 on Could 1, has been a trainer at Lebanon the previous 18 years, whereas additionally serving because the athletic director the previous 14 years.

However basketball has all the time been his true sports activities ardour. Cruthis, who taught and coached at DuQuoin Excessive College earlier than coming to Lebanon, was the Greyhounds boys basketball coach for 11 years, compiling a document of 175-157. He then coached the Lebanon girls team for five years, posting a 130-25 mark.

Cruthis additionally guided the Greyhounds to a 3rd place end on the 2017-18 IHSA Class 1A Women State Basketball Match. Nevertheless, this previous season, Lebanon didn’t have a staff attributable to lack of numbers in the program.

However now, with the need to spend extra time together with his household and maybe return to teaching, Cruthis is popping over the job of main the Greyhounds athletic division.

“It was a troublesome determination to make, however after 14 years because the athletic director, I feel it’s time to step down and focus on household time and presumably getting again to teaching,” Cruthis mentioned. “The AD job is a 24 hour a day, seven day every week job. There aren’t any set hours in case you do the job the best way it needs to be executed. I really feel like I’ve executed a very good job at Lebanon and the district has been superb to me over these 14 years.

“We’ve completed a whole lot of issues and pressured doing it the appropriate approach — hopefully this can proceed. Like many faculties, we’re battling participation numbers in a lot of our highschool and junior excessive sports activities. Hopefully these numbers will start to show again in the appropriate course quickly.”

Cruthis additionally mentioned Ferd Lamar, a former Lebanon athletic director who labored as his assistant this previous yr, is retiring. In its April assembly, the Lebanon College Board employed Matt Colston as athletic director and trainer. Colston was a bodily schooling trainer and head basketball coach at Shelbyville Excessive College this previous yr. Colston was additionally a former coach at Hoopston Excessive College.

The choice to step down may also present Cruthis with the chance to spend extra time together with his household. His son, Jackson, a pupil at Lebanon Excessive College, underwent a second successful kidney transplant surgery final spring. The kidney was donated by his dad and Jackson is doing nicely in keeping with Cruthis.

“My son Jackson’s well being is ok. It was one yr in February because the transplant, and thus far, so good, for him. Hopefully issues will proceed to be constructive for his well being for a very long time. My well being can also be wonderful — in fact, like many individuals, I have to shed some kilos,” Cruthis mentioned.

“My daughter graduates from Illinois Faculty in Could with a secondary English instructing diploma and can hopefully discover a instructing job for this upcoming fall. Clearly being obtainable for my youngsters and spouse is one thing that I can now do freely with out the various hours added on by being an athletic director.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a spouse like Kirsta to all the time be by my aspect, supporting me as a trainer, father, coach and AD. She has stepped in and helped me so many instances whereas I used to be AD and coach that I can’t thank her sufficient.”

Teaching once more sooner or later?

Cruthis nonetheless has that aggressive fireplace and hopes to land a training job someplace within the space. He’ll stay instructing at Lebanon Excessive.

“I’ve eight years left earlier than I retire, so I wish to see if there are some positions which will match,” Cruthis mentioned. “It might be at Lebanon or might be someplace close by, it could be boys’ basketball, ladies’ basketball or golf … I simply don’t know.

“Nevertheless it should really feel proper for me to do it. I may look to be an assistant someplace if any jobs open up. That will enable me to show and work with gamers with out having to run your complete program.

“There are various issues that occurred at Lebanon throughout my time as athletic director and coach that I’m pleased with, however it wasn’t due to simply me. It took gamers, mother and father, coaches, lecturers, directors and a group to see these issues occur.”

Dean Criddle has labored on the Belleville Information-Democrat for 32 years as a sports activities author. Dean graduated from SIUE with a double main in journalism and English, is married and lives in Belleville.