There will be a changing of the guard at the top of the Jonathan Alder High School volleyball program.
The Journal-Tribune has learned that Kim Hayes will not return next fall as the Lady Pioneers’ head coach.
Athletic director Tom Vargo told the newspaper that school officials have decided “to go a different direction” with the program.
He offered no additional comment.
Vargo said he would be able to again comment on the situation in a couple of weeks.
Hayes informed the Journal-Tribune through an e-mail that she was dismissed from the position.
The newspaper talked with her today and she declined to make any comment on the record.
Hayes, who was an All-Ohio volleyball player at Fairbanks High School and who later played at The Ohio State University, held the JA position for the past two seasons.
She originally was a volunteer assistant coach during the 2017 preseason, but took over as head coach when Matt Craycraft resigned for personal reasons right before the start of the campaign.
Hayes led the Lady Pioneers to a 19-4 record during that season as the team captured the Central Buckeye Conference’s Kenton Trail Division championship.
Alder (22-5) repeated as the CBC divisional champion this past season and went on to capture a Division II district title.
The Lady Pioneers’ season came to an end with a 3-1 loss to Columbus Bishop Hartley during the regional semifinals at Heath High School earlier this month.