Gardner back as Princeville softball coach

By NICK VLAHOS
For The Weekly Post

PRINCEVILLE – The on-again, off-again second tenure of Princeville High School softball Coach Chad Gardner is on again.

Following a two-hour multi-topic closed session Feb. 11, the Princeville School Board approved Gardner’s hiring for the upcoming season. It was the second time in about seven months district officials appointed Gardner, who also was the Princeville coach from 2013 until 2019.

Hired in July for a second stint, Gardner hadn’t coached a game before he resigned in January. In a telephone interview Feb. 12 with The Weekly Post, Gardner said lack of player participation in voluntary off-season open-gymnasium sessions prompted him to resign.

“I had three freshmen and three sophomores consistently, and that’s all I had showing up,” said Gardner, who also coaches the junior-high team. “I love coaching, but I’m here for Princeville softball and kids. If they don’t want to come learn, they’re making a choice. Then I’m making a choice.”

Gardner said he understands potential softball players have off-season commitments regarding other sports and activities. He said he doesn’t expect perfect attendance at open gyms, which started in September.
“But they have to show an effort,” Gardner said. “That’s what I told them. You’ve got to show an effort.”

A meeting last month among Gardner, some softball upperclassmen and Princeville Principal Rich Thole appeared to be beneficial. Princeville Superintendent Tony Shinall said Gardner contacted him a few weeks ago about returning.

“You respect someone when they say they’re not sure if they want to do it,” Shinall said. “The meeting with the kids left him feeling like he’s ready to go again. We’re happy. If he’s ready to go, we’re ready to go.”

The board vote regarding Gardner was 6-0. Board Vice President Michael Harmon left the meeting after closed session ended and before the vote was taken. Gardner did not attend the meeting.

Gardner succeeds Brian Holt, who coached five seasons after he succeeded Gardner. Holt’s 2024 team finished 11-17. Gardner’s previous Princeville coaching stretch included a second-place Class 1A state-tournament finish in 2016 and third place in 2017.

Princeville won at least a regional title in each of Gardner’s previous seasons. The first games of the 2025 season can be played March 17. Official organized practices begin two weeks before that.

Also resulting from closed session was approval for hiring Christina Butterfield as a daycare teacher.

During open session, board members authorized a $21,186.53 deal with National Glazing Solutions of Chicago to provide security window film for exterior doors on all district buildings, among other places. A state grant is to pay half the cost.

The film is designed to impede anybody who attempts to enter a building forcibly and/or without consent, according to Shinall.

“Eventually if one were to work and work and work at it, it is going to give, but their standard is it buys about six minutes of time,” Shinall said about the film. “That’s quite a bit of time.”

Also approved was a $44,091.20 expense with CDW Corp. of Vernon Hills for 170 Chromebook computers.

Shinall reported the resignations of permanent substitute teacher Jack Arnett, daycare teachers Lindsay Brumley and Breckon Clark, high school custodian Lori Simpson and junior-high/high school paraprofessional Stephanie Younglove.

During public comment, district resident Jennifer Carruthers addressed board members regarding bullying among Princeville students. She mentioned no names but said she intended to meet with Thole about it.