By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Liberty Principal Robert Studly said that he and a committee of Liberty coaches today will interview candidates for the athletic director’s position that was vacated last week when Scott Birchler accepted the Osceola High baseball job.

“We have a very good field of candidates, some with college experience,” Studly said.

Studly said that members of the Liberty coaching staff have applied for the position.

Losing Birchler and former football coach Doug Nichols over the past several months was a blow to the Liberty program, Studly said, but he wishes both men well.

“The thing is that you are losing good people. Both Doug and Scott are people who the kids love to be around, and who both did a tremendous job for our program,” Studly said. “But, they are going back to a place where they have had success in the past and it’s where they want to be, so I understand that. There are no hard feelings; we’re all still friends.

Studly is confident that the Liberty program will continue to grow. The school placed fourth in the Orange Belt Conference All-Sports standings last school year in only its third year of existence.

“We’re not going to roll over. We still have many excellent people here and I’m confident that we’ll come through this fine,” Studly said.

Birchler was the Chargers baseball coach. Studly is advertising that job.