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Weatherly: Tough day

Published 11/12/2009 in Prep-Garden City

By BRETT MARSHALL

bmarshall@gctelegram.com

Anytime there is a coaching change -- a resignation, a firing, or a hiring -- there will always be a mixed bag of feelings for administrators involved in those decisions.

Bill Weatherly is no stranger to it. In more than 20 years at Garden City High School, the Buffaloes' athletic director has seen his share of coaching changes.

Wednesday was one of those days. Yet, it seemed different when sitting in the conference room at the high school as Weatherly read a short prepared statement in announcing his acceptance of Garden City High School head football coach Mike Smith's resignation.

"Again, this is one of the disappointments that I had to live through because I wanted to be the defensive coach on his staff," Weatherly said of his long-time acquaintance and friendship with Smith. "Because I took the job as athletics director, I wasn't able to do that and that hurt my feelings as much because Mike and I do go a long ways back."

Weatherly and Smith were on opposite sidelines of the football field for several years in the early portion of their coaching careers in Oklahoma. Smith was at Clinton, while Weatherly was at Elk City.

Despite the friendship, though, after the 2008 season was over, Weatherly sat down to discuss Smith's and the program's future after the Buffaloes finished 4-4.

Smith said there was a mutual agreement that if the Buffaloes didn't get over the hump in 2009, there would be a need for change.

"I brought him here and this is never easy," Weatherly said of Smith. "There are a lot of things that went into the decision, more than wins and losses, and that's about all I can say."

Weatherly said his philosophy remains the same with coaches during a search process.

"We want Garden City kids to have the finest programs and we want coaches who can come in and help make that happen," said Weatherly, who has been the athletics director since 1999.

Weatherly and Smith both said they would recommend current members of the Buffs' staff to the new coach after the hiring.

"With any coach, they have to be comfortable with the assistants," Weatherly said. "We've got a terrific group and we'll sort that out after we have somebody hired."

Weatherly said his goal would be to have somebody in place by the end of January.

"The playoffs in Kansas are over by the end of November, but Oklahoma and Texas schools don't finish until just before Christmas," Weatherly said. "I'll be looking to find the best person to help make us a state player."

Weatherly has no immediate names on a short list.

"I have no pre-conceived names in my head at the moment," he said. "We want someone who has had success either in Kansas or the surrounding states and it doesn't matter the size of school."

Weatherly said the job would be posted immediately.

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