School Board Appoints Heinerichs As Haverford Boys’ Basketball Coach

The Haverford Township School Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointments of Keith Heinerichs of Havertown as the new varsity boys’ basketball coach for Haverford High School and John Roe of Havertown as junior varsity boys’ basketball coach for the high school, at Thursday night's school board.

, Heinerichs will replace Terry McNichol, a 15-year veteran who was without explanation, prompting protests from parents and student athletes. McNichol learned March 28 that he would not have his contract renewed for next season.

The school board did not call attention to the fact that the hiring of two new coaches were amongst the several appointments which Superintendent William Keilbaugh had listed in his superintendent’s report for approval. 

Instead, the board voted unanimously to approve all of the superintendent-recommended appointments without discussion.

The school board approved the employment of Heinerichs and Roe as part-time hourly applicants, effective from 2011-2012, according to information about the appointments that was stated in the superintendent’s report.

Heinerichs will be paid a rate of $34.38 per hour, up to a maximum of 187.5 hours, and Roe will receive a rate of $32.81 per hour up to a maximum of 187.5 hours, the superintendent’s report stated.

It was not clear if Heinerichs or Roe attended the school board meeting.

When a Patch reporter asked School Board President Denis Gray about the appointments after the meeting, he said both coaches are community members with impressive resumes.

“They will be a fine addition to our staff,” Gray said.

For the past 11 years, Heinerichs has been the head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team at Ridley High School in Folsom, where he has been named Central League Coach of the Year three times, won the Coaches vs. Cancer school initiative award from 2008-2011, and was chosen to coach the Suburban All-star Labor Classic Team, according to his resume.

Under Heinerichs’ coaching, the Ridley High team was Central League Champions in 2004, 2005 and 2008; and had five, 20-win seasons in 11 years, Heinerichs’ resume said.

Heinerichs also has college coaching experience.

From 1996-1997, he was the men’s assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, Shippensburg University in Shippensburg where he served as head scout and recruiter for players in the Greater Philadelphia area, his resume stated.

Heinerichs, who holds a masters of art in education from Gratz College, has also worked as an assistant coach for boys’ varsity basketball teams at Ridley High School, Marple Newtown High School, and Chambersburg Area High School, his resume said.  His experience in those postions spans from 1994 to 200.

Heinerichs’ community experience includes being a volunteer coach for Hoops for the Heart and Brookline Little League; working as an instructor for Haverford Township Recreation Department and Delco Basketball Academy; and serving as coordinator for the Havertown Showdown, his resume stated.

His resume also has a long list of administrative experience related to working as a coach, director or counselor for several basketball camps.

Roe, Haverford High School’s newly hired junior varsity boys’ basketball coach, has been the head basketball coach at Downingtown West High School since 2008, where his team was a district playoff participant and two of his former players will be competing at the collegiate level, Roe’s resume said.

From 1998 to 2002, Roe was head basketball coach at Archbishop Carroll in Radnor.  In that position, Roe’s team was named the 2002 Philadelphia Catholic League Southern Division Champions, and Roe coached three, 1,000-point scorers and led the program to three playoff appearances in four years, his resume said.

Eight of Roe’s former players from Archbishop Carroll will be competing at the collegiate level, his resume stated.

In another head coach position from 1997-1998 at CB West High School in Doylestown, Roe was named Coach of the Year by both the Intelligencer and the Montgomery Spirit newspapers, and when he led his team to a victory in district playoffs, it was the first time for the school in 15 years, Roe’s resume stated.

Roe also worked as an assistant basketball coach from 1995-1997 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, where in 1998 he received his masters of education, with a major in secondary school counseling, his resume stated.