Rice, Pryor to share AD duties at B-C
George Rice is returning as athletic director for Beth-Center High School.
And he’s bringing Frank Pryor along to help.
Rice and Pryor are going to share responsibilities after being hired by the school board this week. Rice is going to mainly handle day-to-day work inside the school and Pryor agreed to be the presence at athletic activities.
“They approached me about it, and I said yes,” said Rice, 58, who replaces Barry Niemiec. “I was eager to get back into it because I was going to have help with Frank. I needed help, so Frank was hired as my assistant and we’ll split duties.”
Rice worked as the Bulldogs athletic director from 1994-2009 before moving back into a teacher’s position at the school.
“I didn’t think I would go back to that position,” said Rice. “My two kids are grown now and married. So it’s just my wife and I here. I have a little extra time now so I figured I’d come back. I’m going to work two more years and then I’ll retire.”
In 2006, Rice was given the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association’s Dick Kohl Memorial Award for Athletic Director of the Year and was honored at the coach of the year banquet. Rice also is responsible for creating the Tri-County Wrestling Tournament, which was renamed the Tri-CADA Wrestling Tournament when the organization expanded to include Fayette County schools.
“I need some time to get used to doing everything again,” said Rice. “I want to get acquainted to scheduling. Things have changed so I’ll have to brush up on it. It’s always changing.”
Rice said he and Pryor make a good team.
“I’ve known Frank my whole career there,” Rice said. “I work well with him. He’s a good guy.”
The Ringgold School Board recently approved the hiring of a baseball coach and a swimming coach.
Jim Coulter was named baseball coach and Bethany Curzi was hired as swimming coach.
Coulter was an assistant to Robert Nystrom last season and was promoted when Nystrom left. Coulter is a 1992 graduate of Ringgold and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Mercyhurst. The Rams went 4-14 last season.
Bethany Curzi is the new swimming coach. She takes over for Dave McDonough, who is the Rams golf coach but temporarily stepped in to coach swimming. Curzi is an IUP grad and has an extensive background in the sport.