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Place on Helms: ‘Andy was in a tough spot’
The best thing Jim Place did for Chaminade Julienne’s football program was elevate it to state power status. Of course, that just made it much harder for the next coach.
That would be Andy Helms. It was announced on Wednesday, Feb. 9 by CJ that Helms was no longer the football coach after five seasons.
“Andy was in a tough spot,” said Place, who led the Eagles to the 2002 Division II state championship. “He’s a good guy; he was just dealt a tough hand.”
CJ was 29-22 under Helms, but was just 0-1 in the playoffs.
Place left CJ after the 2005 season and was Hamilton’s coach the next five years. He admitted at the time that it was purely for financial purposes: The pension for a retired Ohio teacher is based on three of their highest paid final five years. Place retired from teaching and coaching at Hamilton in 2010 and did not coach last season.
But don’t expect the former UD football captain to reapply at CJ. At least, not yet.
“This caught me off guard,” Place said. “It’s a little late and I was assuming that Andy would be back.
“As far as me, I’ve got some guys who are really qualified now. I’m going to call them and ask them to apply and if they are, I’m going to help them. All these guys were on our staff when we won state.”
They would include Frank Ambrose. He was 1-9 at Piedmont (S.C.) in his first season (2008), but rallied with an 11-2 this past year and was named the of the year. One of his assistant is Chris Mangus, a lineman who Ambrose coached on CJ’s title team.
Another former CJ assistant on the fast coaching track is Mark Raetz of Terre Haute South. One of his assistants is another former CJ player, John Szabo.
Helms came to CJ after several successful seasons at small-school East Clinton. CJ athletic director Jon Payne said he’ll take applications through Feb. 25 and hopes to have a new coach in place by the end of March.
“It’s a different situation than it was five years ago,” Place said. “These kids are all five years older now and they established themselves as head coaches.
“My initial reaction is I’m not going to reapply right now. I’m going to call my guys and see if I can help them. That’s my first plan. We’ve got some great young kids and they’ve paid their dues. If they want to come back, that’s my first priority.”
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Football coaching search
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By interesting joe
February 10, 2011 11:23 AM | Link to this
This interesting that they fire the guy now he should of been gone a couple of years ago he was a decisive guy and he ran all of the good players away, especially the black ones. Cj deserves to lose and as long as they have the racist attitudes they will always lose. Lastly, why is it that all the coaches mention by Place whom I respect just as a coach..where white? Come on people white men are not the only one who coach high school football? Get with the new era and hire outside the white box and get a players coach. Someone who understands the game and young people how to motivate educate and teach young people how to be young men and motivated to work hard. No more favoritism its killed your program Cj its killed it.
By Joe
February 10, 2011 2:25 PM | Link to this
Joe, your comments about CJ’s racist attitudes are so far from the truth it’s obvious that you have no personal knowledge about the school, the exemplary values and tolerance that it promotes, or the wonderful teachers, administrators,students and parents that comprise its community. But you and every other African American in this community are owed an apology from the racist idiot who posted his reply at 12:39. Totally uncalled for.
By joseph
February 10, 2011 5:29 PM | Link to this
place leaves a program right before it rolls over with less talent and needs to rebuild. helms does exactly that… cumniating in a win over alter… and what does he get? most likely replaced by a guy that abandoned the program for his own personal gain. i hope place comes back. i hope he never wins another game. i hope alter beats him 55-0 until he hands the reins over to one of the “talented young kids that paid their dues.” like… let me pick a name… andy helms?
By Mr.Football
February 11, 2011 3:42 PM | Link to this
Jim Place is going to coach CJ once again everybody knows its going to happen,But Jim wants you to think hes not, lets give Jim the spot light so he can feel wanted before he returns to CJ.
By The Rocker
February 13, 2011 9:43 PM | Link to this
Does anyone check the facts? It’s Chris Vangas, not Chris Mangus. Way to go Pendleton!
By C
April 11, 2011 12:59 PM | Link to this
Joe please learn how to spell! I was a former player of Jim Place and now I coach college. I know every guy that he mentioned because they were either my assistant coach or I know them through the industry. It has nothing to do with race, I am a black male and I’m sick of people like you finding reasons to bring out negativity. Place is like a father figure to me, so unless you played for him, come from the Chaminade tree, or know these other gentlemen personally, then please do not say anything else uneducated!