Jordan parts ways with Rob Geertsen

Rob Geertsen won't be coaching the Jordan Beetdiggers next season.

After leading the boys' basketball program for the last six seasons, Geertsen was informed that his contract would now be renewed for the 2013-14 season in a meeting on March 12.

Despite a 74-57 career record and leading the program to its most wins (17) in the last 29 years this season, the coach was informed by Principal Tom Sherwood it was "a good time to make a change."

"Everyone assumes when you let a coach go it's due to a violation or rules that were broken, but that's not always the case," Sherwood said.

"We just decided that it was time to make a change in our head basketball coaching position. I don't want to leave room for speculation, but it wasn't because of any malfeasance, or wrongdoing. It's just the time to make a transition."

Geertsen said he was asked to resign his post during the meeting on March 12, but said he wouldn't.

"I told them I would not because I stand by the way we built our program," he said. "I've got nothing to hide — you will find no wrongdoing on my part whatsoever."

Geertsen said he asked Sherwood whether there was valid cause to move forward without him both in the meeting on March 12 and on April 1 and he said Sherwood's explanation was the school wanted to move "in a new direction."

"Prior to me coming into the meeting on March 12, there was no discussion whatsoever about me not being the coach," Geertsen added.

Sherwood said with the 9th-grade class joining Jordan High School for the next calendar year, it allows him to attach one of at least 10 different teaching jobs to the application for the boys' basketball coach, something he hasn't had the luxury of doing in quite some time.

"I'm hiring all kinds of teaching positions and if I can find a head coach, it just gives me options," he said. "I believe I can get a lot of good applicants."

Geertsen said he built his program on student-athletes succeeding in the classroom, in the community as well as on the basketball court. In 2008, he won a Prep Difference Maker award from The Salt Lake Tribune.

"I feel like we've had a very competitive basketball team, but more importantly, we've had guys develop high character," he said.

Sherwood is proud of Geertsen's work as head coach of the Jordan basketball program and was complimentary of his efforts on the basketball court as well as off it.

"Rob did a lot of good things and I appreciate the six years he dedicated to Jordan High and the boys here," he said.

Geertsen said he's unsure if he'll coach again in the near future, but said he'll keep his options open.

The Salt Lake Tribune will continue to update this story.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani