Post by momto4 on Dec 4, 2008 11:33:50 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/foxvalleysun/sports/1310801,2_6_5_FV04_SCHWEER_S1.article
Schweer guiding Metea Valley sports program
December 4, 2008
By PATRICK MOONEY Staff Writer
Tom Schweer's days begin in the early morning darkness. Slowly, Metea Valley is coming to light.
For more than three decades, Schweer has worked as a coach, teacher or administrator. Right now he's filling all three roles for District 204. While most athletic departments across the state are transitioning from fall to winter sports, Metea is moving from concept to reality.
During swim season, Schweer typically wakes up around 4:30 a.m. to run Waubonsie Valley's girls swimming practice. The coach then teaches about three hours of physical education classes at the Aurora school. From there he morphs back into Metea's athletic director. There are coaching candidates to interview, basketball schedules to create and construction sites to visit. Swim season is over now, with his Warriors earning the school's best finish in the girls state finals last month -- fourth place.
"It's not a linear path between here and opening the doors at Metea," Schweer said recently. "So you're kind of doing lots of different things and as you finish one, or you get one that hits a roadblock, then you move on to something else."
The school is scheduled to open fall 2009. Schweer is in the process of identifying more than 30 lead coaches who will eventually run varsity programs. The field has been narrowed significantly, though some personnel moves need to be finalized after review by Metea principal Jim Schmid. Announcements are expected by early- to mid-December, with many hires coming from within the district.
"We've had a lot of external candidates that have applied. There's no doubt about that," Schweer said. "What we're really striving to do is find the best candidates that we can because, you know, really a coach is an excellent teacher.
"We're looking for excellent teachers that can relate to the kids (and) if we have those on staff, we're (going to) capitalize on it. And let's face it -- (at) Neuqua (Valley) and Waubonsie, there's a lot of talent running around there (as) far as coaching and teaching.
"But if we can't find someone to fill the need, then we will look outside, sure."
After the UEC realignment -- which will place the three District 204 schools in the same division -- was announced in September, Neuqua Valley athletic director Barb Barrows outlined Metea's impact.
"(Neuqua and Waubonsie) are big schools," Barrows said. "Obviously, we'll lose some kids and they'll lose some kids. (But) we know that Metea Valley will offer a very competitive program. (Neuqua) also transitioned from Waubonsie and it took a little bit of time but we also developed (a) good staff and good coaching to develop into a reputable school, and Metea will do the same.
"It's inevitable that we will lose staff as well as Waubonsie. (When) we do that, we'll have to be replacing those people."
Metea meanwhile finds itself in a holding pattern at certain points. Football requires a major investment, and though Schweer has already scheduled seven sophomore games for next season, the program can't be rushed. As Schweer said, "Wouldn't it be nice to order all that equipment on the front end and get it -- but where do you put it?"
Future assistants will also most likely have to find space in the classroom. Earlier this month Metea named eight department chairs -- all were from either Neuqua or Waubonsie.
"We'll put the lead coaches in place and then with input from them, we'll try to fill out the staff," Schweer said. "Since we do have quite a few people coming from Neuqua and Waubonsie, (it's) like a big jigsaw puzzle. And so not only are you looking for people that maybe are good sophomore girls volleyball coaches, but they also have to teach science, or something like that."
Schweer previously worked as the athletic director at Hinsdale Central, and before that helped start up St. Charles North. Schmid, the Metea principal, said of his athletic director: "He's opened up a school, and he's well-connected, which really helps."
So Schweer has seen this before, but was also quick with this reminder: "It makes this a little more comfortable. It doesn't make it any easier."
Schweer guiding Metea Valley sports program
December 4, 2008
By PATRICK MOONEY Staff Writer
Tom Schweer's days begin in the early morning darkness. Slowly, Metea Valley is coming to light.
For more than three decades, Schweer has worked as a coach, teacher or administrator. Right now he's filling all three roles for District 204. While most athletic departments across the state are transitioning from fall to winter sports, Metea is moving from concept to reality.
During swim season, Schweer typically wakes up around 4:30 a.m. to run Waubonsie Valley's girls swimming practice. The coach then teaches about three hours of physical education classes at the Aurora school. From there he morphs back into Metea's athletic director. There are coaching candidates to interview, basketball schedules to create and construction sites to visit. Swim season is over now, with his Warriors earning the school's best finish in the girls state finals last month -- fourth place.
"It's not a linear path between here and opening the doors at Metea," Schweer said recently. "So you're kind of doing lots of different things and as you finish one, or you get one that hits a roadblock, then you move on to something else."
The school is scheduled to open fall 2009. Schweer is in the process of identifying more than 30 lead coaches who will eventually run varsity programs. The field has been narrowed significantly, though some personnel moves need to be finalized after review by Metea principal Jim Schmid. Announcements are expected by early- to mid-December, with many hires coming from within the district.
"We've had a lot of external candidates that have applied. There's no doubt about that," Schweer said. "What we're really striving to do is find the best candidates that we can because, you know, really a coach is an excellent teacher.
"We're looking for excellent teachers that can relate to the kids (and) if we have those on staff, we're (going to) capitalize on it. And let's face it -- (at) Neuqua (Valley) and Waubonsie, there's a lot of talent running around there (as) far as coaching and teaching.
"But if we can't find someone to fill the need, then we will look outside, sure."
After the UEC realignment -- which will place the three District 204 schools in the same division -- was announced in September, Neuqua Valley athletic director Barb Barrows outlined Metea's impact.
"(Neuqua and Waubonsie) are big schools," Barrows said. "Obviously, we'll lose some kids and they'll lose some kids. (But) we know that Metea Valley will offer a very competitive program. (Neuqua) also transitioned from Waubonsie and it took a little bit of time but we also developed (a) good staff and good coaching to develop into a reputable school, and Metea will do the same.
"It's inevitable that we will lose staff as well as Waubonsie. (When) we do that, we'll have to be replacing those people."
Metea meanwhile finds itself in a holding pattern at certain points. Football requires a major investment, and though Schweer has already scheduled seven sophomore games for next season, the program can't be rushed. As Schweer said, "Wouldn't it be nice to order all that equipment on the front end and get it -- but where do you put it?"
Future assistants will also most likely have to find space in the classroom. Earlier this month Metea named eight department chairs -- all were from either Neuqua or Waubonsie.
"We'll put the lead coaches in place and then with input from them, we'll try to fill out the staff," Schweer said. "Since we do have quite a few people coming from Neuqua and Waubonsie, (it's) like a big jigsaw puzzle. And so not only are you looking for people that maybe are good sophomore girls volleyball coaches, but they also have to teach science, or something like that."
Schweer previously worked as the athletic director at Hinsdale Central, and before that helped start up St. Charles North. Schmid, the Metea principal, said of his athletic director: "He's opened up a school, and he's well-connected, which really helps."
So Schweer has seen this before, but was also quick with this reminder: "It makes this a little more comfortable. It doesn't make it any easier."