Assistant Avonworth football coach Derek Johncour will take over as head coach for the Antelopes.

Johncour was hired by the Avonworth School Board at a special meeting last Thursday evening, just days after parents appealed to the school board to rectify the situation created when officials declined to rehire former head coach Jason Kekseo.

Parents said that much of the conditioning and leadership building had been part of Kekseo’s successful program had been left in disarray once Kekseo left his teaching position with the district in January. Officials have refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding the loss of Kekseo. He recently was hired as head coach of a high school football team in Weirton, WV.

Johncour has been an assistant football coach with Avonworth for 10 years, and has acted as defensive coordinator for the past five years. He teaches math at Avonworth High School.

“As a member of the community, I know the students, the parents, and am excited about continuing my work with this exceptional program.”