Board appoints new coach

Thursday, December 9, 2010

GREENCASTLE --As one coach leaves, another steps into his place.

The Greencastle school board approved both the resignation of Eric Davis as the varsity football coach and the appointment of his replacement, Josh Buis. Both the resignation and the approval were part of 12 personnel items approved by the board.

"I think coach Davis did a good job in the one year he was here," superintendent Bob Green said. "I hate to see him move on but I understand his career goals and so forth. I wish him nothing but the best."

Green said that Davis, a long-term substitute with Greencastle, is looking for a full-time teaching job. He said that Davis' position was ending in April.

"I'm sure he'll do well wherever he goes," Green said.

Buis, the new coach, has been the defensive coordinator under Davis this season.

"I think our new coach was instrumental in our success this season and we look forward to him building on that and continue to have a good program," Green said.

Buis graduated from South Putnam High School in 1997 and DePauw in 2000. He has coached football in different capacities at Grand Valley State University, Northwestern University and Eastern Michigan University. Buis said that next year's football team needs to build on the foundation that this year's senior class started.

"We've started that. We're working very hard in the weight room Monday, Tuesday and Thursday," Buis said. "We need to take from last year and build on it for this year."

Buis said that his focus was going to be on improving the athletes he coaches as people.

"My job as a coach is to turn these boys of fall into men of honor, men of respect and men of discipline. If I can help them become better people, to be better men and future husbands and fathers and if we happen to win some football games in that process, great. If not, that's okay. The most important thing is to get these kids where they need to get to."

Board member Jack Berry announced at the meeting that he would be leaving the board.

"I've enjoyed being on the board with all the board colleagues, present and past," Berry said. "I think we have a great school system here, I'm very proud of all the work that's been done."

"I want to thank everybody," Berry said. "It's been fun and I will miss it.

Berry will be returning in January to receive a plaque for his service to the community.

The board heard a presentation on the Greencastle Community School's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report from assistant superintendent Dawn Puckett. Greencastle Schools as a whole met their AYP goals. The high school was the only school that didn't meet their goals, meeting nine of the 13 categories.

The board approved a request for a temporary treasurer services group. Educational Services Company will help Greencastle Community Schools while the current treasurer, Nancy Marlow, recovers after surgery.

"We're behind because of her illness," Green said. "These people and their services will catch us up."

Board vice president Kelly Lewis stepped down as the board's appointment to the park board, with board member Monica Fennell taking his place effective Jan. 1.

The board also approved donations from the Deer Meadow Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and from Theresa Cunningham State Farm Insurance. Deer Meadow PTO donated $2550 for mulch to add to the playground, and Therese Cunningham State Farm donated $500 to support the Deer Meadow Reading program.

"Please convey our thanks to them," said board president Bruce Stinebrickner. "The whole board thanks them."

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  • Not a Greencastle fan, but it's nice to see Josh Buis get this position. Lots of locals have come back to coach high school basketball in the area, so glad it's finally working with football. Indirectly know of Josh and his dedication to football. Glad to hear he wants to teach them to make an impact on the community first and to play football second! Coach Barrett has been doing the same at North. Need more coaches with that attitude! Congratulations, Josh!

    -- Posted by howsthishappen on Thu, Dec 9, 2010, at 8:29 AM
  • great to see change, lets hope he put a winning tradition back at greencastle n start at the pee wee level. greencastle dominates in pee wee every year but players are no lomger playing when it come to high school, mainly because of politics and neppotism, good luck josh.

    -- Posted by tru story on Thu, Dec 9, 2010, at 8:31 AM
  • It is funny that people think Greencastle "dominates in pee wee every year." Do people realize that most of the time, at the youth level, if you have one kid who is a stud athlete, that kid can dominate a game?

    Politics & nepotism are why players no longer play in high school? Seriously? It HAS to be someone else's fault doesn't it? It can't have anything to do with the kids or their parents.

    Good luck Josh. You are definitely a good person & coach. You have your work cut out for you. Just don't make the wrong people mad & you will have a chance to stick around.

    -- Posted by dexter1234 on Thu, Dec 9, 2010, at 12:04 PM
  • Good to see Jack Berry FINALLY gone!

    -- Posted by beachbum on Fri, Dec 10, 2010, at 10:56 AM
  • beachbum,

    your husband was mediocre (at best) as a coach. your just bitter about him getting canned :(

    -- Posted by davgreencastle on Fri, Dec 10, 2010, at 7:56 PM
  • Davgreencastle--The workings of the school board have been bad for YEARS and Berry was the leader of the pack for way too long. You probably had a kid on Coach Ross' team that didn't deserve to be there!

    -- Posted by justasking on Sat, Dec 11, 2010, at 10:31 AM
  • Let's see now-----last fall after the first game and victory, the Banner proclaims, "What a difference a year makes and a new coach". At the end of the season, the win/loss record is not much difference than in the past. So now, GHS gets another new coach.(?)

    Perhaps if the School Administration had stayed with Coack Meyers, the record would have been just as good(if not better) and a good coach would still be in position. Let's see----Coach Meyers is a GHS Alum, a current GHS teacher,moved his family back home to build a football program, enrolled all his children in GC schools, etc..and still to this day has not been given a reason for his dismissal. Not much class and common sense around GC Administration, it seems.

    -- Posted by What's on second on Tue, Dec 14, 2010, at 1:37 PM
  • What's on second--Thank you.

    davgreencastle--you're a sad man.

    -- Posted by beachbum on Tue, Dec 14, 2010, at 3:18 PM
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