Northwest hires girls' coach Aaron Wallus to lead boys' basketball program

Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle

Northwest High rearranged a few coaching positions this week, most notably the boys' basketball head coaching position.

Just weeks after Vincent Turner resigned his post as head coach, the school has hired an in-house candidate as Aaron Wallus was named the new coach Friday afternoon.

Northwest girls coach Aaron Wallus looks for an explanation after a hard foul against West Creek in the second half of their District 10 girls tournament game Tuesday night at Kenwood High School.

More:Northwest's Vincent Turner resigns

Wallus spent the past two years as the head coach of the girls' program but takes over the boys after the Vikings finished the season a disappointing 5-20 and only 2-14 in District 10-AAA play -- a year after capturing the program's first district tournament title in 22 years.

"I'm thankful to be in a position to be considered for the job," Wallus said. "That's exactly why I came to Northwest, to coach boys basketball. I knew what decision I would make, once coach Turner left."

Wallus said it was difficult to leave a team that he was invested in but ultimately he wanted the opportunity to coach the boys squad.

"You can't always go off feelings," Wallus said. "Sometimes you have to follow through on your goals in life. This was one of those goals."

Northwest girls coach Aaron Wallus claps his hands after a strong defensive effort by his Lady Vikings in the first half against West Creek during the District 10-AAA girls tournament Tuesday at Northwest High.

Wallus said he would have no problems making the transition from girls to boys basketball. He spent two years as an assistant under John Stigall when the Northeast coach was at Kenwood years ago. He also spent a year on Dennis Pardue's staff at Kenwood. Pardue resigned from the Kenwood post last month. And Wallus spent a year on Turner's staff at Northwest.

More:Kenwood boys basketball coach Dennis Pardue resigns

"Basketball is basketball," Wallus said. "But the buy-in factor is huge. The great thing with coaching the Lady Vikings is that they bought in so quick. When players buy in, you have success."

Now, the school will look to hire a new girls basketball coach.

Longtime wrestling coach makes move

In addition to Wallus being named boys coach, Northwest also announced the hiring of coaches in four other sports.

Northwest coach Ben Smitherman (left) shouts instructions to his wrestler during a dual meet earlier this past season. Smitherman has been named The Leaf-Chronicle All Area Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Ben Smitherman leaves his post as Northwest's wrestling coach and will now assume the position as the boys' golf coach. Smitherman has been a part of Northwest's athletic programs for 15 years as a wrestling, cross country and track coach..

Smitherman's vacancy opened up an opportunity for Chris Bedell who takes over the wrestling program.

Familiar face returns to golf

In addition to Smitherman taking the boys' golf position, a former girls golf coach returns to Northwest. Mitch Skau coached girls golf at the school from 1998-2002. He also coached boys golf at Northwest from 2003-06.

David Owen takes over Northwest's cheerleading position after years as a gymnastics and tumbling instructor, according to a press release from Northwest High School.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.