Kristi Hoese looked at the talent she had returning to Hobart and turned down the volleyball coaching job at Griffith.
Then she looked at shrinking her commute from her day job in Whiting and reconsidered.
Hoese was approved by the Griffith School Board to take over for exiting Erin Delaney and will coach the Panthers next season. She’s already started open gyms and said she is excited about her team’s potential.
“It was tough to leave Hobart, because of the kids I’d had there since they were freshmen,” Hoese said. “But I couldn’t let that hold me back on that end. I’m sure I’ll have just as many good kids next year.”
The Brickies were 20-13 last year, falling to Portage in the sectional. In 2011, Hobart finished the season 8-22.
“There’s so much room for growth at Griffith,” Hoese said. “I like the idea of growing their program the same way as at Hobart.”
Hoese’s younger brother, Kody, is a freshman on the basketball and baseball teams this season. Kristi is a 2004 Griffith graduate.
"This is more than just a job for her, this is a home and it's just that extra commitment that she's going to have for the program," Griffith athletic director Bill Crowley said. "She's going to be around here for a while. You get the feel that this is where she's from, so she's got that commitment."
Please Wait…