2008 Woodie Awards
Coach's firing still a mystery
Assistant Coach Govek promoted
Trisha Finster and Corey Kempf
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Sports
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In May of this year, the Lakeland College baseball team's season was cut short earlier than expected after a loss in the conference tournament left them out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
A few weeks later, Head Coach John Weber was released, even after being named the Lake Michigan Conference's Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season after leading the team to its fourth straight regular season conference title.
Even though the early exit may have contributed to his sudden departure, due to confidentiality, no reason was released to the press concerning his release.
Since then, a flurry of rumors has fluttered throughout the community. Some players left because of the firing, while others decided to continue pursuing baseball at Lakeland, perhaps because former Assistant Coach John Govek was hired to replace Weber.
Athletic Director Jane Bouche said that coaching changes happen all the time and the goals for the team are still the same.
"[The firing] doesn't change the name of the team," she said. "Lakeland baseball is still going to be Lakeland baseball."
In a press article released by the sports department, Bouche praised Govek's goals for the team.
Said Bouche, "John demonstrated in his interview a passion for this program and some very concrete plans for the next chapter in Lakeland baseball.
"We're excited to be able to give John this opportunity and will do whatever we can to help him excel."
When asked about any players that left because of Weber's release, Bouche said a few left, but didn't want to talk about personal students.
Steve Plucinski and Mike Rauwerdink both left the program, not because of the firing, but to pursue higher goals at Division I schools Arizona and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, respectively.
Of those that stayed with the program, the news of Weber's firing angered some, including junior pitcher Doug Mogensen, and left others in complete surprise, such as junior pitcher Brett Anschutz.
A few weeks later, Head Coach John Weber was released, even after being named the Lake Michigan Conference's Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season after leading the team to its fourth straight regular season conference title.
Even though the early exit may have contributed to his sudden departure, due to confidentiality, no reason was released to the press concerning his release.
Since then, a flurry of rumors has fluttered throughout the community. Some players left because of the firing, while others decided to continue pursuing baseball at Lakeland, perhaps because former Assistant Coach John Govek was hired to replace Weber.
Athletic Director Jane Bouche said that coaching changes happen all the time and the goals for the team are still the same.
"[The firing] doesn't change the name of the team," she said. "Lakeland baseball is still going to be Lakeland baseball."
In a press article released by the sports department, Bouche praised Govek's goals for the team.
Said Bouche, "John demonstrated in his interview a passion for this program and some very concrete plans for the next chapter in Lakeland baseball.
"We're excited to be able to give John this opportunity and will do whatever we can to help him excel."
When asked about any players that left because of Weber's release, Bouche said a few left, but didn't want to talk about personal students.
Steve Plucinski and Mike Rauwerdink both left the program, not because of the firing, but to pursue higher goals at Division I schools Arizona and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, respectively.
Of those that stayed with the program, the news of Weber's firing angered some, including junior pitcher Doug Mogensen, and left others in complete surprise, such as junior pitcher Brett Anschutz.