MOUNT VERNON — The Centerburg
High School Track and Field program will also have a new leader at the helm when
the 2009-10 season begins. Coach Rob Wood stepped down following this past season,
and former coach Sean Sweeney was hired to retake the reins.
Sweeney, who stepped down following the 2006-07 school year, has coached eighth-grade
boys basketball and high school cross country for the last several years. He
made the decision not to coach basketball next year, which opened the door for
his return.
“I had put my name in to possibly coach next year, but I didn’t know
where or what I would be coaching,” said Sweeney. “When I chose not
to coach basketball, my wife suggested that I go back to coaching track. The
day (coach Wood) decided to resign, Mr. (Jim) Stoyle brought me in asked if I
was interested in being the head coach again. I made the decision on the spot
and said, ‘Sure.’
“The biggest thing was the support of my wife,” continued Sweeney. “I
love my family. They are the most important thing to me in the world, so when
my wife suggested I go back to coach, I was surprised. When I had resigned before,
I had only been married for a year and just had my first child. I was a little
overwhelmed, so I was very happy with the support I received when she said, ‘You
love it. You should go back and do it.’”
Coming back to the track and field program was a natural transition for Sweeney,
who will continue to coach cross country.
“There are a lot of the same kids as I coach in cross country,” said
Sweeney. “I missed having that connection with those kids year-round.”
Since Sweeney already had a close connection to the program, he expects a smooth
transition.
“I thought coach Wood did an excellent job,” Sweeney said. “He
used to be my assistant coach at one point, and I was the one who recommended
him to replace me. ... I think the familiarity that I have will help me.”
