Sweet Home athletes will see three new head coaches when the spring sports seasons begin.
High school Athletic Director Steve Brown said last week that new coaches have been named for softball and track and field.
Karyn Hartsook will take over the softball program and Dakotah Keys will lead track and field.
Keys, universally acknowledged as one of the best and most successful athletes ever to graduate from Sweet Home, will be the new head track and field coach.
Keys was a three-time NCAA decathlon qualifier and placed third twice at the University of Oregon after leading Sweet Home to three straight state track championships in 2008-10.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision to make,” said Brown, noting that most of Keys’ coaches from high school are still assistants with the team and can help him make the transition.
Keys takes over for Allyson Bodenbach, who has moved and can no longer coach the team due to the distance from her home, Brown said.
Hartsook has assisted Shane Cochran in the softball program for four years, as well as heading some club teams. She also has assisted with the girls basketball teams.
“She has the most high school experience (of the applicants),” Brown said. “She has a proven track record. That helps. The whole (selection) committee picked her unanimously.”
John Best will take over the head coaching position in baseball from Dan Tow. Best was Tow’s pitching coach last year.