Krieg to step down as Saints’ AD

Updated: May 12, 2011 12:48PM

Jerry Krieg said Wednesday that his decision to retire as St. Charles East athletics director has nothing to do with recent turmoil at the school concerning the removal of the boys basketball coach or an examination of the department which he oversees.

“I just feel like it’s the right time,” said Krieg, 63, whose last day is slated for June 30. “There has never been a bad time that I can remember during my tenure as a Fighting Saint.”

Krieg was hired as the Saints AD in 2003 after five years as the school’s boys basketball coach. He said he will exit not having anything to do with naming Brian Clodi’s replacement.

“From what I understand the new (AD) will be handling that,” said Krieg, who reportedly gave his former player, Clodi, an unfavorable review at season’s end.

Clodi was ousted as coach after eight seasons and that set off a protest by students who demonstrated at school and supporters who turned out at school board meetings.

A review of the athletics department, conducted by outside sources, could be made public in the coming days. That probe was initiated after the firing of Clodi.

“I’ve been thinking about (retiring) for years now,” said Krieg, who is an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer. “I was unbelievably fortunate to get the position here at St. Charles, to follow Ron Johnson as the last St. Charles (High School) basketball coach and to be the first St. Charles East (AD).

“I feel like I’ve had to make a lot of tough decisions in my years as a coach and (AD) and this is one of them. But I’ve still got my health and I’d like to stay involved with kids.”

Krieg coached basketball, baseball and football for 33 years, starting in Grant Park. He was also the athletics director at Bishop McNamara from 1972-96.

Krieg posted an 84-55 mark at St. Charles and was 416-317 during basketball coaching stints at Bishop McNamara, Ottawa Marquette and St. Charles. He was enshrined in the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

“It’s been a magical time for me at St. Charles,” said Krieg. “And I’ll do my job the best that I can until the very end.”

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