FORT JENNINGS — Todd Hoehn wears a lot of hats at Fort Jennings. The long-time athletic director is also the dean of students, the golf coach and now he is doffing a new cap as the boys head basketball coach.
Hoehn, who has been at the school for more than 25 years, said he took the job for consistency purposes and the timing was right.
The Fort Jennings Board of Education approved Hoehn’s hiring last week and he takes over for Ryan Schroeder who went 3-20 and 1-6 in the Putnam County League last year.
“Our last few coaches have done a great job with the kids … and we were looking for some one with possible stability and some consistency and someone that was going to stay here a period of time, not that I will, because I plan on retiring at Jennings if they will have me of course, but that in conjunction with everything going with the covid.”
Hoehn added that they did interview several candidates for the job but none worked out because of the uncertainty of when and what time the school would open and how quickly the new coach could become acquainted with the players.
“Because of the covid we just felt that for our kids we wanted to have someone they know coach them and be around them to get through this crises and that is very vital and important in moving forward,” Hoehn said. “We weren’t even sure if the basketball coach would meet the guys until the start of the season. We opened up now but there were so many uncertainties.”
For Hoehn it proved to be a time where he could dedicate more of his efforts to the program after seeing his daughter graduate from high school last year.
“I was going to be there anyway as the athletic director but this will free up the other nights for practices and stuff since my kids don’t have high school events anymore,” Hoehn said. “With all those things I just think it is best. I am not the best coach by any means but it makes for a good transition for our kids until I retire or get through this crises. It can be a year or until I retire. If it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out but at least our kids will go through this corona thing with someone they know. ”
Hoehn admits that becoming the head coach was not on the top of his list with all his other duties at the school but he is excited about the prospect of coaching and mentoring the players this season.
“We have this covid thing and trying to get our school back in order and as the dean of students that is my first responsibility, and then I teach a couple of classes, and then the athletic director and then the coaching but we are fortunate enough at a small school we can do that.”
Hoehn added that he appreciates the administration and Superintendent Nick Langhals to allow him to take on the added responsibilities
Hoehn, who has coached hoops on various levels and was on the Fort Jennings’ coaching staff that won state in 2000 under John Von Sossan and has not been on the sidelines for a while, feels he has plenty of support from many of the coaches in the Musketeer basketball program from the junior high to the varsity level.
“I think another good reason why this fell into the place was the coaching staff there. They all played for us too. I think I coached them all at some level,” Hoehn joked.
Fort Jennings has gone 6-40 the last couple of years and Hoehn said his expectations are to be competitive and he understands it will not be easy in the PCL or the region. Hoehn takes over a team that lost three seniors.
“First and foremost is to be competitive and that is our No. 1 goal,” Hoehn said. “Our league is very respected. Columbus Grove is still trying to get a state title, and you can filter your way down from there to the district.”
Hoehn has been working out the players based on the coronavirus guidelines and said they are hungry to produce wins.
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