West couldn't hire a coach by then? That's sad. Hunt didn't leave that late.. more than anything it makes West look bad in hindsight. They had a decent amount of time to hire someone.. I've seen coaches leave a week before the season before, now that's late. But.. props to Rutz for doing what he did though it's not easy. He was the right guy in the right spot, a less experienced coach woulda done worse. Honestly I think he coulda stayed on. He won the kids over and they played much better through the end of the year. If they had an easier non conference schedule they coulda won a game or two more.. Forbush and Avery are bad opponents for them right now.
West I see having a run in a few years; they weren't that bad on JV in 2019. If they had some better luck they coulda won 6 games, and I hear their middle school team wasn't bad. West just needs some continuity and a stronger internal system. Hunt let all the work his 3 predecessors go to waste.. shameful. Losing Hallock was a major blow for West, Pruitt too.
Main thing is building things up and get the kids to stay invested, they don't need to have their main kids not want to come out anymore. They need someone with HC experience, not some hotshot from a 4A school.