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By all accounts, Tim Keech has done a very creditable job in his eight seasons as head coach of the Bellwood-Antis boys basketball program.

Through eight seasons, Keech’s Bellwood teams have compiled a composite record of 118-83, won a District 6 Class AA championship, and a Juniata Valley League title. Last winter, the Blue Devils played and lost to Williamsburg for the JVL championship, and qualified for the District 6-AA playoffs while finishing 13-10.

But internal concerns presented by some parents and school board members surrounding the B-A program have resulted in the opening of the boys basketball head coaching position.

The B-A school board convened for its monthly meeting May 13 and voted to open the position by a 5-4 vote. Applications are being accepted until Monday, June 2, and Keech, 46, is eligible to reapply for the job, and has already done so, the Mirror learned Thursday night.

“I’ve been [coach at Bellwood] for eight years, and I think my coaching staffs and I have done a pretty decent job during that time,’’ Keech said. “I’ve been pretty fortunate. I’ve coached some very good kids who have made me look much more intelligent than I am. They found a way to get the job done.

“I’m disappointed in how this has all come out, but I’m willing to reapply and prove to [the Bellwood-Antis administration] that I should [still] be the head coach at Bellwood.’’

A letter sent to the Bellwood-Antis administration that was signed by several parents of the players expressed concerns about the program, according to Keech.

“I don’t know if the school board was directly sent that letter, but I was under the impression that the superintendent received it,’’ Keech said. “I would have to say the letter was a big factor [in the decision to open the position]. At my end-of-the-season meeting with [Bellwood-Antis] principal Ms. [Diane] Williams and [B-A athletic director [and head football] Coach [John] Hayes, I was given no indication that the position would be opened.

“On the morning of Tuesday, May 13, I was called in to Coach Hayes’ office, and we went through the letter and he listened to my [response] to what was contained in the letter,’’ Keech said. “He said he would present my side to the executive session of the school board. By lunch time on May 13, I had faxed my letter of re-application to Bellwood. I don’t know what went on in that [school board] meeting, but the next morning, May 14, Coach Hayes told me that the school board had voted to open the position of head boys basketball coach at Bellwood.’’

Neither Keech — a third-grade teacher at the Frankstown Elementary School in Hollidaysburg — nor Hayes, would elaborate on the specific concerns expressed by the parents and some school board members.

“At this point, I think that anything in that letter is probably an issue between the parents, the school board, and myself,’’ Keech said. “I don’t feel comfortable playing this out in the [news]paper.’’

Hayes said the concerns expressed were among those “typical concerns that happen within sports programs.’’

“Sometimes, it’s just a matter of how those concerns are responded to,’’ Hayes added. “They were typical concerns that weren’t handled properly. When the concerns were presented to the administration and the school board, it was thought that the best action would be to open the basketball position. Coach Keech has been told that he is welcome to re-apply for the position.’’

After the June 2 application deadline, Bellwood will conduct interviews for the position, and Hayes hopes to have the situation resolved before the next meeting of the B-A school board, on Tuesday, June 10.

“Our goal has been to settle this matter as quickly as possible and to move forward in the best possible interest of the basketball program,’’ Hayes said.

 

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