Dear BLR Families & Friends:
A few weeks ago, I announced that our current Bishop Louis Reicher athletic director and head football coach has decided to transition to new opportunities and pass the baton to the next generation of athletic leadership.
Since then, our school admin team – with support of dedicated and generous leaders in our BLR Community – has been assembling a plan for athletics renewal in the Bishop Reicher tradition dedicated to the formation of young men and women in character, sportsmanship, and leadership motivated by personal excellence and sense of Catholic mission.
In light of this effort, I’d like to announce several decisions and initiatives that I hope will be welcome news for our BLR community.
First, let’s put to rest the decision surrounding football for the upcoming fall season. BLR will continue our program of 11-man football. Coach Overshown has already assembled a schedule of games, and BLR is prepared to support the continuation of this program under a new AD and new head coach.
Taking over the tasks of AD requires someone with management, mentoring, and planning skills who also loves opportunities that shape a whole person, who loves seeing our kids excel at sports and in the classroom.
We are excited to announce that Coach Gary Hall, who joined our staff at the beginning of this school year, has accepted our invitation to take on the office of Interim Athletic Director.
Gary comes to Bishop Reicher with an incredible resume. This George Mason University grad has worked for 36 years as a teacher and coach in physical education and athletics with 33 of those years as boys varsity basketball coach. He has 14 district championships and has mentored 38 players who made it into collegiate athletics. In 2020 he was honored by being selected to coach in the MacDonalds prestigious All-American Game.
To lead our process of renewal in athletics BLR is partnering with professional educational consultant Tricia Roos, President of Role Call Consulting.
For 16 years, Tricia has served as a Director of Admissions and as a 5-time state championship head volleyball coach at the largest co-ed Catholic school in Texas, and she knows both the enrollment side and athletic side of private schools. Her first job during and after college was as a volleyball and basketball coach at Bishop Reicher from 2001-2004, so she is excited to get back on a very familiar campus and help build and restructure the athletic program. Tricia also has experience in branding, marketing and communicating effectively with prospective students and families to create a welcoming environment that engages and attracts mission-driven students.
Taking this opportunity of transition, I have assembled an Athletics Task Force to involve key leaders and supporters of Bishop Louis Reicher’s athletics program to review fundamentals and to help set a solid foundation for our future in athletics.
A program evaluation will cover several areas:
We are excited about this renewal opportunity for Bishop Louis Reicher Athletics and grateful for the incredible contributions that are being made by our volunteers, coaches, and families who will have a chance to contribute to this process.
Please continue to keep our school in your prayers this Lent! Go Cougs!
In Christ,
M. E. Pennell, MA, Ph.D.
Head of School, Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School