Columnist Spencer Patterson: Smeltzer, Whalen take new coaching jobs

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

Spencer Patterson's prep sports column appears Thursday. Reach him at 259-4085 or spencer@lasvegassun.com.

After five seasons behind the scenes, Ron Smeltzer is stepping out into the spotlight.

Smeltzer, a former Canadian Football League head coach who has spent the past five seasons as a Cimarron-Memorial assistant, has been named the first head coach at Coronado High School, which will open next year in Henderson.

"I really enjoyed my time at Cimarron, but I felt like it was a situation now where I needed my own thing," Smeltzer said. "I miss putting something together of my own."

Serving as offensive coordinator under former Spartans coach Greg Spencer, Smeltzer helped Cimarron to a pair of 4A state titles in 1998 and '99. He interviewed for several other positions in town, including the vacant Cimarron job, but decided he wanted to start up a brand new program.

"I have no idea who's going to be there with me, but I'd like to begin a new program," Smeltzer said. "There's going to be a lot more time commitment, like dealing with parents, but I missed doing all the stuff."

Smeltzer said he hit it off immediately with Coronado principal Monte Bay during his interview.

"I liked what he said," Smeltzer, 59, said. "He was very open, very honest and very up front, willing to listen to the things I had to say."

For his part, Bay was thrilled to begin his new athletic program with a man who served as a head or assistant coach for CFL franchises Ottawa, Edmonton, British Columbia, Calgary and the short-lived Las Vegas Posse.

"As I talked to people during the interview process, his name was No. 1 in terms of coaching and building a program," Bay said. "We're all very excited to have someone of his caliber and with his experience."

* RAMS TAP WHALEN: Rancho became the second local school to fill its football head coaching opening, naming Bishop Gorman's Roger Whalen to the position on Wednesday.

Whalen compiled a 20-15 record during his three seasons with the Gaels, taking them to the playoffs in all three years. Last fall, his squad captured the Sunset Region title, earning a berth to the 4A State Tournament.

"My experience at Gorman has been rewarding," Whalen said. "The kids are great, and the parental support has been unbelievable. We built a great foundation, and I think the program is in great shape"

Whalen, who interviewed for several openings in the Clark County School District, said he welcomes the chance to try to rebuild a Rancho program that has gone 8-19 over the past three seasons.

"I'm really excited about it, especially about the attitude of the administration," Whalen, 51, said. "There's a hunger in those kids that I observed, and I think there's a wealth of potential there."

Whalen said he is also looking forward to the opportunity of playing a true "home" contest with the Rams. Since Gorman does not have its own football facility, the Gaels spent Whalen's first season at Sam Boyd Stadium before moving to Valley High.

"I haven't had a home game in three years, so I'm looking forward to having a place to call home," Whalen said.

Rancho athletic administrator Greg Snelling said his school was thrilled to hire a proven winner like Whalen.

"We're very excited to have him come on board," Snelling said. "There's certainly a tremendous amount of work to be done, but we all agree there's a tremendous amount of potential."

Six 4A football head coaching positions remain open in Southern Nevada: Bishop Gorman, Cheyenne, Cimarron, Eldorado, Green Valley and Sierra Vista, a new school slated to open in southwest Las Vegas.

Gorman principal Connie Geber said her school will accept applications from internal candidates only, with a decision expected next week.

"We're accepting interviews from personal on campus only, and we hope to have a coach by a week from Friday," Gerber said. "Roger was dedicated and loyal, very much in control. He had a vision that coincided with the goals of the school and of Catholic education."

Chaparral will remain in the Southeast for one additional season in football, since Coronado will compete as an independent entry in that sport next year.

Sierra Vista will join the Southwest Division and, like Coronado, will compete independently in football next season.

In a stunning move, Demetrius Orme, the leading scorer on Bonanza's boys basketball team, left the school last week and enrolled at Los Angeles' Washington Prep. The 6-5 senior, who was averaging 20 points per game, left without a word to coaches and teammates...

Basic shortstop Mark Rose has signed a letter of intent with Utah's Dixie College. Nate Lord, a receiver on the Wolves' football team, has verbally committed to Dixie as well.