Published: May 16, 2008 10:37 pm         

FULL STORY: Concord tabs Austin

When that “dream job” opens up, one has to go for it.

That was the feeling of Steve Austin when he learned the Concord High School boys basketball job was available.

The former Northridge High School coach’s name will be submitted to the Concord Community school board Monday night.

“If there has ever been a coaching position that I considered my ‘dream job’ it was Concord,” Austin remarked in a press conference Friday afternoon at the Concord Administration Building.

Austin, 53, actually applied for the job once before.

“It was after my first year at Richmond,” Austin said. “Ron Dietz and I were the two finalists. I was disappointed then, but have my chance now.”

Austin was chosen from a field of 30 applicants. A committee of 12 screened the applicants before a group of seven conducted the interview process.

“We are very pleased to have someone with Steve’s level of experience in this position,” Concord Athletic Director Dave Preheim said.

“He lives in our community, is familiar with our athletes and opponents and also knows the traditions of Concord basketball at McCuen Gym.”

It was the Concord tradition which helped make the job Austin’s goal in his coaching career.

“It goes back to my coaching days at South Bend St. Joseph’s,” he said. “Concord had Shawn Kemp and we sold out the ACC at Notre Dame. They even had to turn people away.

“There was another time when St. Joseph’s was playing at Concord and Jamar Johnson made two free throws to beat us (55-54 in the 1988-89 season). The Concord fans were phenomenal. That is when I first started getting to know some of the Concord fans.”

Austin will be replacing Ryan Culp who resigned to spend more time with his family after coaching the Minutemen for the past nine seasons, compiling a 118-81 record which includes two Class 4A sectional championships and a Northern Lakes Conference title.

“There is a lot of excitement,” Austin said. “Concord’s winning tradition (a string of seven straight winning seasons was snapped last year) has always been a lot of fun for the fans and the kids.

“A new coach can bring a different look. One of the things we want to do is play good hard man-to-man defense and press full court.

“My son, Brett, and I went to about five or six Concord games last season. The program has some great athletes who can play this style. There are good shooters, good ball-handlers and kids who can leap. We are going to do a lot of different things, but whatever we do we will do it well.

“My goal is the state championship and defense will help get us there. Defense is my No. 1 priority.”

Austin is a 1973 graduate of South Bend Adams High School where he played with Jimmy Webb on a team which advanced to the state championship game (single class) before losing to New Albany 84-79. Adams won a 99-95 thriller over Anderson earlier that day.

Austin went on to play at Franklin College where he ranks as No. 14 in career scoring with 1,349 points (1973-77). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and a Masters from Olivet Nazarene.

Austin was the head coach at St. Joseph’s from 1979-93 and Richmond from 1993-95 before taking the Northridge job. He was an assistant at Wawasee during the 2006-07 season and spent last school year at Edwardsburg (Michigan).

“It feels great to be back in the NLC,” Austin said. “I have always felt this conference has outstanding coaches and is the best conference in the state.”

Austin will be teaching physical education and health at Concord.

“We feel that Steve will be a great addition to our staff,” Concord Principal Dan Cunningham said. “He brings a great deal of experience and success in the classroom and on the court.”

Steve and his wife Dawn have a son Brett who is a 5th grader and a daughter Kiley who is in 4th grade.

Dawn is an assistant women’s softball coach at Notre Dame.