UNION MILLS | It's certainly not the situation Dan Klimczak envisioned for himself two days before the start of the football season.
Instead of settling into his first year as athletic director at South Central High School, he finds himself juggling his administrative responsibilities, with those of the head football coach.
Klimczak, the former Wheeler coach who came on as A.D. at his alma mater just last month, was formally approved by the South Central school board at its meeting Wednesday. The termination of Bob Foster as coach, retroactive to Monday, was also passed.
"It's been such a whirlwind," Klimczak said. "I don't think anybody envisioned this scenario. But this is the challenge I'm faced with and I'm going to accept it and do the best I can.
"They needed somebody to step in, they asked me to do it and I'm going to do what I can to give these kids the best possible experience they can have. Right now, everything's about the players. They've had a rough week."
Several players attended the meeting, but all declined to discuss the situation afterward. Given the circumstances, Klimczak said they're handling it as well as can be expected.
"There were some close relationships involved," he said. "Absolutely there's shock. The main thing I'm trying to do is help them deal with the situation. Part of becoming a man is reacting positively when you face adversity.
"But they've reacted as well as any group of young men can. They've done everything that's been asked of them and more. They've worked so hard all summer."
The Satellites host LaVille Friday and while the state of flux could certainly be a viable excuse, Klimczak isn't looking for an out.
"Change is constant. Change determines the kind of person you are," he said. "When you look at it from the mentality of a high school football player, they are only guaranteed 10 games a season. I can't obviously implement everything in a short amount of time, but I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can to put them in a position to be successful.
"Friday nights are important."
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