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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 7, 2005 Ashland's Kemper a busy man By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland High Athletic Director Karl Kemper was looking for a new challenge when he was hired by the school last July. He hasn't been disappointed. PHOTO: Kemper In just six months on the job, Kemper has already filled two coaching vacancies and has three more to take care of following the recent resignations of Ashland's head track and field coach Bob Julian Jr., head baseball coach Jason Robustelli and head football coach David Coldiron. Tops on Kemper's to-do list is to find baseball and track and field coaches. Both are spring sports with schedules that kick off in late March (baseball) or early April (track). Kemper said he wants to fill both positions "as soon as possible. We want to hire somebody yesterday." The timeline for the football vacancy isn't as pressing. Kemper said the school's deadline to replace Coldiron is mid-February to early March. Kemper responds While Julian stepped down to focus on his passion for coaching distance runners - he will remain with the team as an assistant coach - Coldiron and Robustelli left under more ambiguous circumstances. Robustelli, who led the Grizzlies to a 28-25 record in two years at the helm, stepped down in December after Kemper asked for a greater time commitment to the program. That extra commitment would have included helping with Ashland's American Legion team - a job that offered a $1,500 stipend - and participating in coaching clinics. Robustelli said he wasn't willing to sacrifice time with his family, but also criticized the plan as a whole, saying: "It's strenuous on a kid and it's strenuous on a coaching staff." Kemper responded this week by pointing out that every other baseball program in the Southern Oregon Conference has a coach that works with the local American Legion team and that it's a good idea anyway. "The Legion program really should be connected to the high school program, and not just (to improve play) but for building relationships," Kemper said. As far as requiring coaching clinics, Kemper said that it's nothing out of the ordinary and pays dividends both on the field and off. "It's just standard practice for head coaches to go to clinics, watch videos, interact with other coaches and find ways to improve and to grow, just like any other teacher," he said. Interest in the baseball position isn't exactly booming, but a few applications have been turned in. "At this point in the year, it's pretty hard to find somebody," Kemper said, "so we're kind of in a tough situation there, but we'll do the best we can to put the best person we can in there." Out of the blue While Robustelli's departure was slightly unexpected, Coldiron's resignation seemed to come out of nowhere. Not long after wrapping up his second season at the helm, Coldiron spoke optimistically about the Grizzlies' prospects in 2005. Then, on Dec. 20, only seven weeks after gaining his first SOC win, Coldiron submitted his resignation, citing a desire to move closer to his family in Washington. The Grizzlies were 6-12 under Coldiron's guidance, but he was instrumental in mobilizing Ashland's weight training effort after being hired to replace Jim Nagel in May 2003. Coldiron maintains that he simply wants a change of scenery, but Kemper hinted that it may have been more than that. "With any coach, there's people on their side and there's people that have issues with them," he said. "It's hard to find a coach that's universally liked, so I would say there are definitely people on both sides. "It didn't catch me completely off guard. I knew that that might be something that would happen." Kemper added that he was pleased with Coldiron's performance. "He did some good things here," Kemper said. "The program grew in size, he always conducted himself with class and integrity and he was very committed to building the Grizzly program." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's Slippers men's slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Memory Foam Mattress college loans alternative student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation trillion cut diamonds Currancy Exchange Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams