Pacelli High School is looking for a new boys basketball coach.
Steve Newcomer, who led the Cardinals to their best record in five years in the recently completed 1999-2000 season, is resigning his position to pursue other basketball coaching opportunities.
Besides his two seasons as head coach of the boys basketball team, Newcomer also was the girls basketball head coach for three seasons, leading them to a Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association appearance in 1998. He was also an assistant coach for girls volleyball, winning a state title in 1994.
"Steve has given the last eight years of his coaching career to the student-athletes at Pacelli," Terry Owens, Pacelli athletic director, said. "He has been a positive, successful leader all the way, regardless of the sport he was coaching. His ability as a basketball coach was underlined this past season and we wish him the very best as he continues his coaching career. He will be missed."
This past season, Newcomer led Pacelli to a 12-12 overall record, a third place finish (6-4) in the Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference, and a spot in the WISAA Division 2 Region 1 semifinals. The 12 victories marked the first double-figure win total since the 1995-96 season for Pacelli and only the third in the last 11 seasons. The 99-00 team started the season 1-6 in their first seven games.
"To say I've enjoyed coaching at Pacelli would be an understatement," Newcomer said. "I've grown a great deal as a coach and a person and I credit that to the players, parents, fans and administration at Pacelli. The experience I gained there will help me a great deal in the future. I'll miss Pacelli but I look forward to the challenges ahead."
The school will begin its search next for a new boys basketball coach within the next week and would like to fill the position by late April.