Port Clinton names new boys, girls basketball coaches

PORT CLINTON — Ryan Hicks was working at Toft Dairy on Tuesday morning when his phone rang. It was Port Clinton Schools superintendent Patrick Adkins."I sprinted out of work when I saw that number," Hicks said. "I've been waiting for this for three weeks."Adkins had good news: He offered the former Port Clinton star the varsity boys basketball coaching job at his alma mater. Hicks accepted."I've always had love for that school and community," Hicks said. "It's like a dream come true at this point in my life."Hicks, 27, was one of the leaders on Port Clinton's state runner-up team in 2010 and has coached the Redskins' junior varsity squad the past three seasons."Ever since I moved on from my playing days I shifted my focus to coaching," Hicks said. "I think I have a strong connection to our guys. The kids who are going to be seniors are the first class I coached on JV. I want to put them into a position to succeed."Hicks takes over for Von Graffin, who announced his retirement in late March. The Redskins went 28-87 in Graffin's five seasons leading the program. Hicks is close to Graffin and also thanked his high school coach Troy Diels, who is the athletic director at Wilmington High School."I owe a lot to Von. He was really the one who took a chance on me and believed in me and put me on the staff," Hicks said. "Before applying, I got as much advice from him as possible."Hicks was a first-team All-Ohio selection as a senior at PC and scored 15 points in the Redskins' 64-50 loss to Dayton Dunbar in the 2010 Division II state championship game. He played at Defiance College, and his 6-foot-7 frame and basketball background no doubt will get the attention of his players."I know we need to move forward and have a positive mindset and understand that where we're at isn't where we need to be," Hicks said. "We have to put in work in the gym and get skill work done.""We are excited to have Ryan as our head coach," Adkins said in a news release. "Ryan was part of a very successful program here as a player, including being the most valuable player on the 2010 state runner-up Redskin team. Our players are excited and we look forward to that excitement carrying over to the basketball court."PCHS also named a new girls basketball coach Tuesday. Lucas Kennedy will take over the program after working as an assistant coach. Kennedy also is an assistant football and baseball coach at the high school."I am filled with a great amount of excitement, pride and gratitude to be named the new Port Clinton Redskin girls basketball head coach," Kennedy said. "I wear the name of Port Clinton on my chest with great pride. This is a school district and city that I am proud to work for, and I consider it a blessing to be a part of this family of dedicated teachers and coaches."Our girls will work hard to serve as an example of what it means to be a Port Clinton Redskin."Kennedy will take over for Toby Bickel. The Redskins finished 1-22 last season."Lucas has been an important member of our staff over the past four years," Adkins said. "He will bring great enthusiasm and passion to the program and is committed to creating a winning culture, which is very important to us."The coach candidates were interviewed by several panels as part of the selection process. Two interview committees — one for boys basketball and one for girls basketball — made up of PCHS administrators, staff and parents/community members narrowed the field of candidates to two for each team.The candidates were interviewed in two separate groups last Saturday, each meeting a panel of parents and then a panel of players. Input from players and parents helped to determine the selection of both coaches, PCHS said in a news release.Ryan Hicks has been promoted to Port Clinton's varsity boys basketball coach after guiding the junior varsity for three seasons.New Port Clinton girls basketball coach Lucas Kennedy is shown working with players Isabelle Biers, Olivia Jackson and Carli Laurel last season. Kennedy has worked as an assistant coach for the Redskins.Ryan Hicks has coached Port Clinton's junior varsity team for the past three seasons. He was named head coach Tuesday. "It's like a dream job at this point in my life," he said.