The likelihood of Westinghouse coach Chris Head taking over the boys basketball program at either Proviso East or Proviso West took a critical step forward at the District 209 board meeting Monday in Hillside.
The board approved the creation of two new jobs–one at each high school–with the title of assistant building security manager with an annual salary of $37,856, the first move in getting Head in the building at either school.
The job is effective July 1. Head has held security positions in the past.
Under district policy, the new jobs must be posted for a month. The board approves only the creation of a job. Supt. Gregory T. Jackson has final authority in determining who gets the job and at which school.
Head has been receptive to discussions about the career change, though he has said he wants assurances of long-term employment before agreeing to leave the West Side powerhouse he directed to the Class AA state championship in March.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Clarence “Bo” Flowers Sr., who built a Class 2A football power at Walther Lutheran in neighboring Melrose Park, was formally announced as the new football coach at Proviso West. But that position is believed to be temporary. A source said that before the start of August practices, Flowers and Proviso East football coach Cecil Ratliff will shift places.
A similar scenario is possible in basketball. The hiring of Head, most likely at Proviso East, would shift current East coach Troy Jackson, a physical education instructor, to West, taking over for Mark Schneider. Schneider, who just completed his ninth season as Proviso West coach, has turned down the West athletic director’s job.
Head’s hiring would be another case of the Proviso district’s hiring non-teaching personnel to direct sports programs.
