Palka Hiring a "Grand Slam" Says AD

The search for a new high school football coach netted considerably more for Saline Area Schools.

The district has hired Joe Palka to be assistant principal and assistant athletic director at . Palka, who teaches physical education at Toledo Whitmer High School and who was principal at Summerfield High School near Petersburg, will collect an $88,000 salary in that role.

Whitmer will also be coach of the varsity football team.

With high school principal Ben Williams leaving to take the superintendent post at Central Lakes Public Schools, assistant principal Eric Diroff will become interim principal when school resumes after the break. Palka will begin serving as assistant principal Jan. 23.

Superintendent Scot Graden said the hiring marks a subtle shift in the administrative structure in the high school.

“I think we’ll see a little more connection between the athletic department and the high school office,” said Graden.

With Williams leaving and Dean of Students Dana Restrick moving to Heritage Elementary to be a physical education teacher, it will be important to have more administrative experience at the high school, Graden said.

Palka was a principal at Summerfield High School. Athletic Director Rob White was assistant principal prior to accepting his current post.

Graden said the hiring will not affect the upcoming search for a permanent principal, which is should be completed by July. He said he expected the district would return to employee to assistant principals in the high school. To save money this year, the district replaced on of its assistant principals with a Dean of Students.

Saline Athletic Director Rob White called hiring a “grand slam.” White said Palka was on a very short list of coaches he talked to about replacing Mike Glennie, who resigned in November after 10 years of leading the program. White said a one-hour meeting with Palka turned into a four or five hour conversation.

“When you spend time with Joe, your realize the kind of character guy he is and where his passion is. He loves educating kids,” White said. “I was impressed in our conversations by the things he places importance on.”

White said one of his jobs as athletic director is to keep an eye on area programs. White said he’d been watching Palka and Whitmer from afar.

“He took over program that had a strong tradition but had been struggling. He put together a lot of wins and built a sense of community pride around the program. Next thing you know, they are building facilities and people are talking about all the different things the school has to offer,” White said. “A lot of that has to do with the success of the football program.”

In six years at Whitmer, Palka’s teams won three league championships, went to the playoffs five times, and made the state’s final four twice. His teams went 59-17.

Graden said Palka is the right person for the district at the right time.

“He’s the real deal when it comes to coaching. He builds really positive relationship with kids,” Graden said. “Right or wrong, the way a football program goes can change the energy in a building.”

The Ohio High School Athletic Association is in the process of investigating student transfers into the football program. White said he talked to Palka and contacted the OHSAA about the matter.

“It sounds like it was an opposing school creating controversy about where kids are living,” said White. “When you build a great program, parents want their kids to be part of it. Toledo Whitmer is one of the best football programs in Ohio.”

Palka has connections to Saline. His sister, Michelle Monahan, is a counselor at Saline High School.

Palka’s son, Tyler, was Whitmer’s starting quarterback. According to the Toledo Blade, no decision has been made about whether he will stay at Whitmer or move to Saline in his senior year.

Palka was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Michigan University. In college, he started 27 games at Eastern Michigan University.

Palka and his wife, Kathleen, have three children.