The athletic department hired three new head coaches for the 2024-2025 school year.
Athletic Director Josh Devoll, Assistant Athletic Director Jessica Wills and Principal Scott Hinton were all involved in the hiring process.
“It takes a lot of time to bring people in, but you want to make sure you’re not missing anybody,” Hinton said.
Hinton says he looks for several factors when hiring a head coach.
“Building relationships is very general, but can you build excitement? Can you get kids excited…about your sport?” Hinton said.
Currently, many districts are struggling to fill coaching positions.
“I don’t think we’re any different to find coaches than any other school across Ohio,” Hinton said.
Hinton, a prior coach, believes the low pay is worth the enjoyment of coaching.
“I’d go back to coaching tomorrow if I could.” Hinton said
Meet the new coaches
Girls Basketball: Kellon Thomas
I am 31 years old and from Indianapolis, Indiana. I graduated with a degree in sports management and minor in business from Kent State university. I also played collegiate basketball. After graduating from Kent State, I went to IU Indianapolis where I received my graduate degree in sports journalism. I also played collegiate basketball for the Jags.
I played professionally overseas in Germany for 2.5 years. After retiring, I became a basketball trainer at Just Hoops in Powell, Ohio where I then got connected with a basketball organization called Ohio Future. I am now the Girl's basketball director for Ohio Future.
I have been a part of Granville girls' basketball as an assistant coach for 3 years. This is my first year as a head coach. I also work at a manufacturing company called Packhill in Newark, Ohio as a production manager.
Cheerleading: Morgan Hellmich
I am the Middle School Sideline Cheerleading and Varsity Competition Cheerleading Coach. This is my second season at Granville and I am so excited to be back working with our fantastic student athletes! Before coming to Granville, I coached sideline cheerleading at Pickerington Lakeview Junior High for 3 years and I also supported the Pickerington North Varsity Competition Cheerleading program. In addition to coaching, I work as a Marketing Program Manager at Abbott. I received my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Ohio State University and my Master of Science in Marketing and Marketing Analytics from Texas A&M University - Commerce.
Boys Cross Country: Coach Zink
Coach Zink first became involved with the Granville program several years ago as an assistant to the boys cross country and track teams. Last winter he became the distance coach for the girls indoor track team, and then continued in that role for the outdoor season. Most recently, he became head coach for the boys cross country team. Coach Zink grew up in the Akron area where he participated in track, cross country, and soccer in high school. Besides coaching, he enjoys running, hiking, writing, and spending time with his two daughters, Reilly and Mia
Girls Soccer: Thai Trinh
I started coaching in 2014 as an assistant boys soccer coach at Bishop Hartley where we won our first district championship in program history in 2016. I became a girls soccer assistant at Hartley in 2020 where we won two district championships (2020,2021). I was promoted to head coach at Hartley for the 2022 and 2023 seasons before becoming the head coach at Granville for the 2024 season.
