Maple Grove Junior/Senior High School is facing some challenges when it comes to some of its girls sports teams.

At Board of Education meetings in June and July there were discussions regarding the lack of coaches for the girls volleyball, junior varsity basketball and golf teams. At the meeting in August, the volleyball coach was appointed, but the others remain up in the air.

“We are still looking for a JV basketball coach right now,” said Superintendent Joseph Reyda. “We might have one for the golf team, but I would have to check with our athletic director on that. We are doing what we can do to get someone from our teaching staff to coach the basketball team, but if not we will begin looking for someone in the community.”

Because the discussion around the volleyball coach came back in June and July, the district was able to take those few months since then to look at the program and hire a new physical education teacher who also had volleyball experience to take over the coaching role.

While the district is heading toward the beginning of the school year without a girl’s junior varsity basketball coach, Reyda said he did not expect it to impact their upcoming season.

“They start practicing in November, and we should be able to find someone by then,” Reyda said. “It is a coordinated effort. Some of the other coaches and athletic directors are helping look for someone. We will be reaching out to our teachers again, but if not we will be reaching out to the community. We should be able to find someone prior to the beginning of the season.”

Reyda reassured the community that filling the coaching positions was important to him and that the district is doing its very best to find the best person to fill the role. Additionally, he said, the lack of coaches was not the only thing worrying him about the upcoming season.

“Coaching is just one piece of the puzzle,” Reyda said. “Transportation is an issue too. We have a lack of bus drivers right now, meaning we will have less to be able to drive to practices and games. We are short at least three drivers right now. This is the bigger worry. Coaching is the fun part I think, and driving is the more challenging part.”