The search for Helias' new head football coach officially begins Monday with a job posting for the position.
Helias activities director Brad Dempsey said the posting will strongly encourage all applicants to be certified to teach because it is important the head football coach be at the school on a daily basis.
"We're looking for a great teacher first, because that will carry over to the football field," he said.
Dempsey said the posting will be up for two weeks. Then the interview process will begin with a selection committee.
"If we have 10 good applicants, we're going to interview 10," he said. "If we have 15, we're going to talk to 15.
"We will go as long as we have to to make sure we get the right guy."
Getting "the right guy' is important because the head football coach is often one of the more public faces at a school.
"Sometimes all anyone knows about you is your football program and Helias has had a first-class program on and off the field for many years," Dempsey said. "We want to make sure that continues."
Since the retirement of Ray Hentges, Helias' next three head football coaches - Mike Jeffries, Chris Hentges and Phil Pitts - have come from within the Crusader program.
Andy Pitts, Helias' current defensive coordinator and Phil's brother, is serving as interim head coach for the program's off-season activities. Chris Hentges, who has been the offensive coordinator under Pitts, is not a candidate to return for a second stint as head coach. He is leaving the program as his son, Hale, moves on to play college football.
See also: