By Rick Pedone

Sports Editor

Celebration’s next football coach, pending approval from the Osceola County School District, is Ed Meierkort, who for the past eight seasons was the head coach at the University of South Dakota.

Storm Athletic Director Chris Lavoie said that Meierkort has accepted the position and it will be official as soon as his paperwork clears the school district’s human resources department.

Meierkort posted a 6-5 record at South Dakota last season and was 54-35 over his career there, leading the team into the NCAA D-II playoffs in 2006. His contract was not renewed after last season. Former Wyoming coach Joe Glenn replaced Meierkort at South Dakota.

Prior to that, Meierkort was the head coach for 11 seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

The Celebration search committee selected Meierkort from among more than 80 applicants.

The Storm was winless last season under Coach Ben Aarestad after a 4-6 campaign in 2010 that equalled the best in the team’s brief history.

Assistant coach Eric Scrivens guided the team through spring practice after Aarestad was relieved of his duties in May.