Dave Caldwell guiding GE cage turnaround

Dave Caldwell is the new head boys basketball coach at Glen Este High School beginning with the 2007-08 campaign.

Caldwell comes to Glen Este from McNicholas High School where he coached basketball and taught social studies for eight years. He had previously taught and coached at his alma mater (St. Xavier High School, class of 1993) and Taylor High School for one year each.

Caldwell replaces Tom Jutze as the Trojans’ head cage man. Jutze is remaining at the school to continue teaching physical education.

The new head honcho of the Purple and White’s male basketball program is anxious to get things underway.

“(Glen Este High School) has fantastic athletes. This is the perfect fit for me,” he said. “I don’t live very far away from the school and this is a great, quality school district.”

Caldwell and his wife Cheryl, a teacher in the Forest Hills School District, are the parents of two daughters, Brooke (5) and Lilly (2).

The new head basketball man in Troy has a fine athletic background. He was a stellar athlete at St. Xavier and took his athletic talents to Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio) where he played football for the Tigers until he graduated in 1997.

In addition to his own skills, Caldwell has superior roots in sports, too. His dad, Tom, played basketball at the Universty of Notre Dame. His uncles, Tim, a seven-footer, and, Pete, played basketball at Georgia Tech.

"I've think I've been prepared to be a head coach for a long time," Caldwell said. "I want a team and a program that we'll be proud of and the people in the community will be proud of. The kids I've been working with so far have been fantastic. . .

"We can be a winner the first year. We could finish second in the (Fort Ancient Valley Conference Buckeye Division) with the athleticism and size of the kids I've seen. Every class has a great nucleus of players."

Glen Este High School athletic director Dan Simmons said, "Dave was by far the best candidate to apply for the (head boys basketball coach) position. He has a quality and an air of confidence about him. He is a very positive influence and is also a good teacher."

"I want the younger kids to be excited about Glen Este basketball and I want the community excited about Glen Este basketball, too. We are all really excited," Caldwell said.