Wed - 14 Mar
Written by Jim Ecker
Kennedy High School announced Wednesday in a news release that Dennis Roloff has retired as girls basketball coach, but Aaron Stecker acknowledged that's not entirely correct.
Roloff, 58, is departing after 21 years as head coach, but it wasn't his decision.
"It's fair to say that it was more of an administrative decision than it was a Dennis Roloff decision. That's a fair way to put it," said Stecker, the school's athletic director.
"We're looking for a different style of leadership and different leadership in the program and thought that now was the right time to make that change," he told the Metro Sports Report.
Roloff compiled a 314-165 record at Kennedy and led five teams to the state tournament. The Cougars finished 13-10 this season and lost in the second round of the regional playoffs to Xavier, 59-32.
That turned out to be Roloff's final game as head coach.
"They want to go a different direction. And good luck," Roloff said.
"Aaron called me in a couple of weeks ago. It just came down to he wanted a different strategy and a different way to go. I found that out last week."
Roloff informed his players of the change Wednesday afternoon.
"I told them the administration wants to go in a different direction," he said. "I thanked everybody and wished them good luck."
Roloff did not rule out the possibility of coaching somewhere else next season. "If the right thing happened, maybe I would," he said.
Roloff retired as a full-time teacher at Kennedy after the 2010-11 school year. Once he retired as a teacher, he lost tenure as a coach and was working on a one-year contract to lead the girls basketball program this season.
Roloff technically wasn't fired, but his contract was not going to be renewed for next season.
"I'm fine with it. I'll go on my way," he said. "I've done what I guess I can do for Kennedy. Somebody else can come in and go a little farther.
"I don't know if it was wins and losses. I really don't think it was. It was just time for a change. Maybe someone else can do a better job."
Roloff acknowledged he wanted to coach next season. "If I could have. For some reason, it's not what they wanted," he said.
The Metro Sports Report has been told that Stecker wanted Roloff to make changes in Kennedy's summer program, weightlifting regimen, scouting and game preparation. Stecker declined to be specific about any of those areas.
"It was time to look for a different direction of leadership, I guess is the easiest way to put it," Stecker said. "I know it's a really general answer. It's not one specific thing."
Stecker said he has certain requirements and expectations for all of Kennedy's coaches.
"Our primary goal for them is to maximize our kids' potential, both athletically and off the court and off the field," he said. "I'm looking for somebody who is ready to run a highly competitive 4A program."
Roloff did not use the word "retirement" while discussing his departure from Kennedy.
"I don't know what's a good word for it. It's a coaching change," he said. "It's their program.
"I hope the best for the next coach. I hope he does well and I hope the Kennedy family is happy and hopefully everything goes well for them."
Roloff's departure is the second major coaching change in two days for Metro girls basketball programs. Larry Niemeyer, 74, announced Tuesday that he is leaving Jefferson after 34 years.
Niemeyer also was working under a one-year contract, having retired as a teacher after the 2010-11 school year. Scott Kibby, Jefferson's athletic director, said Wednesday that Niemeyer resigned prior to the school being in a position to offer contracts for next year.
Roloff, a Jefferson grad, served as an assistant coach at Jefferson for Niemeyer before becoming the head coach at Kennedy. Now they've both departed, on two consecutive days.
"Dennis is a great man and he has been a great friend of mine, and I hope that continues," Stecker said. "He's been great for our Kennedy community and I hope that's going to continue.
"I know this stings right now," Stecker said. "I respect that."
