Full-time coach has plans

Pima announced Tuesday its men's and women's head basketball coaches will become full-time employees, pending board approval Wednesday.

Of the school's three full-time coaches - football coach Pat Nugent was the first - Holthaus has been the most successful at Pima. The Aztecs finished fifth at the national tournament in March and were third in 2009.

Moving to full time will free up time for recruiting, scouting, individual work with players and other duties, Holthaus said. The team also may do more community service, he added.

"I can do so many more things from a coaching standpoint," he said. "There's a long list forming in my head right now."

Pima's part-time contracts for Holthaus and men's coach Karl Pieroway paid a $16,000 salary at 20 hours a week. Both taught at other schools, and after a full day of teaching, they would head to Pima for practice and games.

Pima has yet to release their new salaries, but Nugent makes $52,004. Holthaus' and Pieroway's new salaries are expected to be near that amount.

Pieroway had resigned last month, citing the stress of working two jobs. He accepted the job after it was offered full time.

"I have a full-time job as a teacher, and you have it thrown back at you like this. … Not in my wildest imagination would I ever think Pima would turn the tables, so to speak, and be able to offer me a full-time job," he said.

After teaching at Sentinel Peak High School, Holthaus would arrive at practice after 3 p.m. As a full-time coach, he said he can be on campus more often and provide more academic support.

"I'm going to expect a heck lot more out of them," Holthaus said about academics. "I'm going to expect a lot out of myself because there's more I can learn about Pima and how to be more efficient around there."

Holthaus, a former assistant coach for the women's team at the University of Arizona, said his assistant coaches helped pick up duties when he was tied up by his teaching job.

"More than anything, it was tough because I would go from teaching all day, off to practice for a few hours, home at night to see the kids and help out," he said. "It was a lot of wear and tear. But all coaches, everybody sacrifices different things. I'm happy with the opportunity Pima is giving us. Going to make the most of it, for sure."

Other sports

• The women's tennis team finished 19th at the national tournament last week at the Reffkin Tennis Center. No. 3 singles player Lori Cinnamond, a sophomore, lost her consolation final 8-1 to Soizette Simmons of Institute ASA (Brooklyn, N.Y.). No. 1 singles player Gabriela Rodriguez, a freshman, fell 8-5 in a consolation semifinal to Ruta Grinvalde of Mississippi Gulf Coast. The No. 2 doubles team of Cinnamond and sophomore Ana Gallardo (Mountain View) lost 8-4 in the consolation semifinals to Mesa's Jaclyn Daywalt and Nikki Duenas.

• The men's tennis team competes at nationals Monday through Friday in Plano, Texas.

• The track and field teams will compete at the Region I championships starting Tuesday in Mesa.