The Salem Community High School Board has voted unanimously to name Pete Colclasure as its new head varsity boys basketball coach.
Colclasure served as an assistant coach and sophomore coach last season after spending two years as head girls JV and assistant varsity girls basketball coach at Centralia. He is a former Wildcat basketball and baseball player and played four years of college baseball at Lindenwood College in Belleville where he earned a sports management degree.
He replaces Andy Farenbacher who resigned at the last regular school board meeting.
Colclasure says the appointment meets one of his lifetime goals.
“What an opportunity. But that is just what it was. It was an opportunity situation this soon to find myself in, but I know this is what I ultimately want to do and so I jumped on it. So luckily I jumped on it and was named new head coach.”
Colclasure shared his philosophy.
“Mostly just building relationships with these kids and getting them to understand how hard work ethic and discipline can take you a long way and help you become successful and bring a passion and joy and positive attitude to it that makes it fun for the kids, fans, and community, so that is what we are looking to bring and represent Salem on our chest with a lot of pride.”
And what about this year’s team.
“I have solid expectations. We have a veteran group that has had a lot of varsity experience. We have some key players back, some good seniors that are going to contribute. There was a solid foundation already laid and I look to build upon that. I’m very excited and I’m very ready to get back to work and get back into the gym.”
One of the first things Colclasure and the school have to do is build a coaching staff. Right now all three assistant coaching positions are open.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says they will be working to fill those positions as quickly as possible. He did not announce how many candidates were interviewed.
Board member Joe Telford congratulated Colclasure and noted the unanimous vote and all the school board members being behind him. He said playing with pride, integrity, and enthusiasm was more important than wins and losses. But Telford predicted by doing those three things he would bring back the best athletes to play for him.
