Fincham has been an assistant coach at Normal West for 11 seasons. (Unit 5 photo)
By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – The man picked to become Normal West High School’s next head football coach is the team’s long-time assistant coach, who was backed by some players and parents seeking continuity in the program.
The school announced Nathan Fincham is the choice to replace Darren Hess, who resigned in December after Unit 5 administrators discovered Normal West’s Gridiron Club paid stipends to Wildcat assistants.
Some parents and players attended a school board meeting last month complaining administrators forced Hess to quit, and they said Unit 5 kept them in the dark about the reasons for Hess’ departure.
The group backed Fincham or another assistant to run the program.
Hess had been head coach for 15 seasons, and Fincham was one of this assistants for 11 of those seasons. Fincham has also been a Normal West science teacher for six years.
In a statement, Fincham said he looks forward to “continuing the ascension of the great program Coach Hess has built.”
Athletic Director Stan Lewis said Fincham has developed “outstanding relationships” with the student-athletes. Lewis describes him as a “detail-oriented coach with a clear plan” for every aspect of the football program.
Fincham’s promotion awaits school board approval at its February 28 meeting.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
