Despite running one of the most successful prep programs in the area, Steven Roberts has been fired as baseball coach at Marion County High School. Athletic director Troy Boeck informed Roberts of the decision Wednesday.
"After consideration of the situation for more than a month, we've decided to go in a different direction," Boeck said.
Boeck would not elaborate further as to the reason for the decision and said the school will begin accepting applications for the coaching vacancy.
During Roberts' six seasons as the Warriors coach the program averaged 29 wins, advancing to the Class AA state tournament twice and twice being named the Times Free Press area coach of the year. Marion set a school record for wins in 2007, then broke the record again with 34 wins in 2008.
The Warriors claimed four straight regular-season district titles, and their 2009 season ended in the tournament semifinals.
"This all came out of the blue for me," Roberts said. "I hate it for the kids. Aside from the wins, six years of hard work and taking the program to a new level and now this. I have no idea what the new direction they want the program to go in is.
"This late in the year, with school about to start, unless another coaching job comes open I'll just stay at the school and teach and wait for another opportunity to come open."