With a possible return to the sidelines in mind, Lebanon athletic director steps down
One of the cornerstones of the Lebanon High School athletic department for nearly two decades, Chad Cruthis has announced his resignation as the Greyhounds athletic director, effective July 1.
Cruthis, who turns 49 on May 1, has been a teacher at Lebanon the past 18 years, while also serving as the athletic director the past 14 years.
But basketball has always been his true sports passion. Cruthis, who taught and coached at DuQuoin High School before coming to Lebanon, was the Greyhounds boys basketball coach for 11 years, compiling a record of 175-157. He then coached the Lebanon girls team for five years, posting a 130-25 mark.
Cruthis also guided the Greyhounds to a third place finish at the 2017-18 IHSA Class 1A Girls State Basketball Tournament. However, this past season, Lebanon did not have a team due to lack of numbers in the program.
But now, with the desire to spend more time with his family and perhaps return to coaching, Cruthis is turning over the job of leading the Greyhounds athletic department.
“It was a tough decision to make, but after 14 years as the athletic director, I think it is time to step down and concentrate on family time and possibly getting back to coaching,” Cruthis said. “The AD job is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week job. There are no set hours if you do the job the way it should be done. I feel like I have done a good job at Lebanon and the district has been very good to me over these 14 years.
“We have accomplished a lot of things and stressed doing it the right way — hopefully this will continue. Like many schools, we are struggling with participation numbers in many of our high school and junior high sports. Hopefully those numbers will begin to turn back in the right direction soon.”
Cruthis also said Ferd Lamar, a former Lebanon athletic director who worked as his assistant this past year, is retiring. In its April meeting, the Lebanon School Board hired Matt Colston as athletic director and teacher. Colston was a physical education teacher and head basketball coach at Shelbyville High School this past year. Colston was also a former coach at Hoopston High School.
The decision to step down will also provide Cruthis with the opportunity to spend more time with his family. His son, Jackson, a student at Lebanon High School, underwent a second successful kidney transplant surgery last spring. The kidney was donated by his dad and Jackson is doing well according to Cruthis.
“My son Jackson’s health is fine. It was one year in February since the transplant, and so far, so good, for him. Hopefully things will continue to be positive for his health for a long time. My health is also fine — of course, like many people, I need to shed some pounds,” Cruthis said.
“My daughter graduates from Illinois College in May with a secondary English teaching degree and will hopefully find a teaching job for this upcoming fall. Obviously being available for my kids and wife is something that I can now do freely without the many hours added on by being an athletic director.
“I have been lucky to have a wife like Kirsta to always be by my side, supporting me as a teacher, father, coach and AD. She has stepped in and helped me so many times while I was AD and coach that I can’t thank her enough.”
Coaching again in the future?
Cruthis still has that competitive fire and hopes to land a coaching job somewhere in the area. He will remain teaching at Lebanon High.
“I have eight years left before I retire, so I would like to see if there are some positions that may fit,” Cruthis said. “It may be at Lebanon or could be somewhere nearby, it may be boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball or golf ... I just don’t know.
“But it will have to feel right for me to do it. I may just look to be an assistant somewhere if any jobs open up. That would allow me to teach and work with players without having to run the entire program.
“There are many things that happened at Lebanon during my time as athletic director and coach that I am proud of, but it wasn’t because of just me. It took players, parents, coaches, teachers, administrators and a community to see those things happen.”
