High Schools

Ike Thornton couldn't turn in that piece of paper.

"I went to give my resignation twice and I didn't feel comfortable giving it," Thornton said of his job at Sam Houston High School in San Antonio. "I wasn't at total peace with it."

That means Trotwood-Madison won't be going back to the future with its high school boys basketball coaching position. Thornton called Trotwood officials on Thusday, June 5, to say he couldn't take the job he accepted a week ago.

"I backed out of it," Thornton said. "It took me a little bit longer to make the decision."

Larry Ham replaced Thornton two years ago and went 42-7, but was not brought back.

Fairmont's Hank Bias, Worthington Kilbourne's Tom Souder and Cincinnati Taft's Mark Mitchell also interviewed.

"We'll begin the process over again," said Trotwood Athletic Director Jim Ladd, who was disappointed but not angry. "Maybe we'll contact some of the other candidates and bring them in again or see if there's anybody else interested. ... We'll just move on."

Thornton went 68-28 in four seasons, including the Rams' run to the 2006 Division I state title game. He, his wife, three sons and one daughter then moved to Texas.

In one season as coach at Sam Houston, Thornton was 20-14. His wife has the same university job she took two years ago.

"I wanted to make sure that everything was going to be an upgrade for my family," Thornton said. "There was some indecisiveness in how that was going to turn out."

Sooner or later, Trotwood will have its third coach in four seasons.

"The key is to get someone in that's going to take care of our kids and take them to the next level," Ladd said. "I don't know if you want to rush it or take your time and cook it slow."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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