Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Former Steamboat Springs Athletic Director and current teacher Steve Moos has been hired as the new Sailors girls basketball coach, filling the void left after Bruce Alston resigned earlier this month.

Current Athletic Director Bruce Crowhurst said two applications arrived in his office Wednesday, but the selection committee had already interviewed Moos and decided to offer him the position.

"I'm excited to get Steve," Crowhurst said. "It gives me another coach in the building."

Moos, a high school business teacher, was in Pittsburgh, Kan., at a business conference and was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Before coming to Steamboat Springs in an administrative role, Moos spent time as both a girls and boys basketball coach, making him an attractive and qualified candidate for the vacant position.

Now, he will pull both teaching and coaching duties.

With the hiring of a new girls basketball coach behind him, Crowhurst's attention shifts to filling the newly created hockey coaching position. The recent addition of hockey to the Sailors' slate of varsity sports means the program needs a head coach.

Crowhurst said the application deadline for the hockey vacancy is May 28. Currently, there are three people interested with a possible fourth candidate applying soon. An advertisement will also run in The Denver Post this weekend to test the waters in the Front Range.

Bill Krueger, an avid hockey supporter, said all three that have picked up applications have hockey coaching experience within the local hockey association, but no names were given.

Ideally, the hire will be made before Steamboat breaks for summer on June 6. However, the interest of the kids is more a priority than filling the hole fast.

"We'll look until we find the best person we can find," Crowhurst said. "If we're not satisfied following our upcoming interviews, we'll keep looking."

Crowhurst said the selection committee will be comprised of himself, Principal David Schmid and Vice Principal Mike Knezevich, along with several kids and adults both inside and outside of hockey.

Krueger said there was a good chance he would be involved as the representative for the hockey association because of his initial involvement with the movement to create the sport. He said everyone involved seems to want the same thing in a coach.

"We're all looking for someone that can teach hockey skills and life skills," Krueger said. "Someone that just retired from the Chicago Blackhawks might not be the best person for the job. You want someone that can coach, not just play the game."

Krueger acknowledged that the decision would be tough as many coaching hires are, but he expressed confidence in Crowhurst's hiring process, which includes heavy involvement from the athletes.

"The kids' input is invaluable," Crowhurst said. "The No. 1 criteria in any coaching search is finding a candidate that can build positive relationships with kids. That will be our primary focus. It always is."