Eirhart Removed as Beecher City Boys Coach; Talks to Resume on Co-Oping with C-H in All Sports

On the same night Andy Fehrenbacher was dismissed as boys basketball coach at Teutopolis, another county coach suffered the same fate.

The Beecher City Board of Education Monday voted 4-3 against rehiring Jason Eirhart as boys varsity basketball coach. Eirhart was rehired before last season on a 4-3 vote. This time, board members Joe Wills, Darren Giles, Glenna Gordon and Nancy Wolf voted against retaining Eirhart, while members Darren Doty, Jeff Kline and Carolyn Clark voted in favor of rehiring.

Beecher City Superintendent Scott Cameron said work will now begin to advertise the position. Eirhart will remain in the district as a teacher.

Eirhart, who had served as girls basketball coach at Altamont, was the JV boys coach at Beecher City several seasons ago when he was named varsity coach in a change that occurred during the National Trail Conference Tournament.

The Beecher City board also voted Monday to approve other coaches and sponsors for next school year, with the exception of longtime boys baseball coach Bill Hammer, who has decided to resign as coach.

The Board also decided to resume conversations with the Cowden-Herrick School District on co-oping in all sports. The districts already co-op in several sports, including baseball, softball and girls basketball.

Cameron said the Board has had a change of heart from an earlier position that any complete co-op would involve each team retaining the nickname of the host school and the cost of the entire sports program would be split 50/50. Under the new scenario, discussions will proceed with a mind toward a new nickname for all sports teams and new colors. Also, each district would bear all the costs of the sports they host.

Newly-elected board member Lee Roadarmel has volunteered to work with Cameron to represent Beecher City in the discussions, while Superintendent Darrell Gordon and a board member will represent Cowden-Herrick in the talks.