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Former assistant Patrick O'Leary will become the Fairfield girls basketball team's next head coach, replacing Larry Price who resigned after two seasons (19-23).

O'Leary, 33, got plenty of hands-on head coaching experience this past season: he designed practice drills and plays, and frequently spoke to the team during timeouts.

"I feel like I was doing a lot of head coaching stuff," O'Leary said. "The transition itself should be pretty easy because I know the girls so well."

"He's young and he's very energetic, and he relates to the girls very well," Price said.

Price, who also is the varsity baseball coach, said he wants to "devote full-time" to the baseball program. He also plans to remain involved with the girls basketball program.

"It's just too time-consuming to coach both teams," Price said. "I'm still going to work as an assistant (for the girls basketball team)."

O'Leary, a graduate of Western Hills High School and University of Cincinnati, is a social studies teacher at Fairfield Middle School.

"Being a head coach is something I've always aspired to be," O'Leary said. "When I was younger, with small kids, it just wasn't possible. But I'm now in a good position to take a head coaching position. I'm pumped. I'm ready to rock and roll."

O'Leary inherits a team that went 10-11 last season after winning 15 games in its three previous seasons. The Indians return five players — all juniors — including second-team All-Greater Miami Conference selection Jolene Jackson (8.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game).

"Our first open gym is today. We had over 20 girls showed up, which is good to see," O'Leary said. "(Thursday) is our first meeting, where we'll talk about summer options, let them know what kind of leagues and shootouts and mini camps are out there. We're trying to give the girls a number of opportunities."

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5128 or edawisha@coxohio.com.

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