Kintzel leaving helm of Mustang girls’ basketball team
August 17, 2012 · Crystal Eskelsen
Mount Vernon girls' basketball coach Bob Kintzel has resigned from his position after five successful years as the head coach.
"It was a pretty hard decision," Kintzel said. "If I could make it work, then I wanted to stay. But I also wanted to give the school time to fill the position if I couldn't."
Kintzel's daughters - Shelby, a 2009 Mount Vernon grad, and Courtney, a 2011 graduate - both play volleyball for the University of Northern Iowa. The high school basketball season overlaps with the college volleyball season.
"It was becoming a scheduling conflict," Kintzel said.
He missed the Panthers' first round NCAA game last season because of his coaching obligations.
This will be Shelby's third year on the volleyball team and Courtney's first - they both redshirted their first seasons.
"This may just be a break from coaching," Kintzel said. "It's hard to tell right now. I like being around the game. We will just have to wait and see."
Kintzel's five years at the helm in Mount Vernon were his first years as a head coach, but he knows the game.
He found big-time success, with a Class 2A state title in 2010 and second place in 3A in 2011.
"Basketball is a sport I love," Kintzel said. "I will miss being around the girls. I may volunteer to help with one of the colleges in the area."
Kintzel is a 1981 graduate of Clarence-Lowden High School (today combined with Mechanicsville and Stanwood as North Cedar). He made his mark as a college ball player at Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids. He was inducted into the Mount Mercy Hall of Fame in 1992 for his achievements. Among them: He's third in the school's history when it comes to scoring average (16.8 points per game). He's 11th in Mount Mercy history for both free-throw percentage (76.6) and per-game rebounds (6.9). He's 16th overall in field goals made (402).
"I am leaving the program in good shape," Kintzel said. "There is no reason they can't continue to be successful." |
