GREEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- La Salle named Pat Goedde as its next head basketball coach Tuesday afternoon.
Goedde, a 1991 La Salle graduate, was informed Monday night of the school’s decision after the administration conducted a thorough search process.
He succeeds longtime Lancers coach Dan Fleming who stepped down from the position earlier this month in order to spend more time with his family.
Goedde, 45, has been the La Salle junior varsity basketball coach and varsity assistant since 2003. He’s been coaching in the program for 26 years overall in a variety of roles.
“His passion and love for La Salle was very evident throughout the process,” La Salle Athletic Director Keith Pantling told WCPO.com. “He bleeds red, so to speak.”
Goedde, a Colerain Township resident, has been a physical education teacher at St. Jude Parish in Bridgetown for the past 15 years.
“I am indebted to La Salle High School and for Dan Fleming giving me a chance 26 years ago,” Goedde said.
Fleming completed his La Salle coaching career with 452 career wins. He earned seven wins at Taylor High School in 1987-88. He was an assistant at La Salle for two years prior to taking over as head coach in 1990. His record at La Salle was 445-198.
Fleming told WCPO.com that Goedde’s hiring is a natural progression for the basketball team at La Salle. Goedde was La Salle’s point guard during Fleming’s first year at La Salle in the 1990-91 season.
“He’s a graduate and he’s been here for 26 years as an assistant coach,” Fleming said. “He knows all the ins and outs of the program and everything. So I think it will be business as usual. Hopefully he will take it to a new height and really do a good job. It’s really a good day.”
La Salle won Division I state titles in 1996 and 2011. Goedde served as the interim head coach in the 2011 state tournament as Fleming recovered from a heart attack in early March that year.
This past season, the Lancers (24-4) finished as a Division I regional runner-up to eventual state runner-up Moeller.
Goedde said he was humbled to receive such a significant amount of support from former players and alumni throughout the interview process this month.
“He has a lot of great relationships with former players,” Pantling said. “It’s going to be a pretty seamless transition.”
Goedde said going through the competitive search process was rewarding and emotional at times. Goedde said he was confident walking into the interviews that his passion for the school and the basketball program would be an asset.
“They turned over every stone to find the best possible candidate,” Goedde said. “Thank God it was me.”
Goedde said he plans to meet with the returning players on Friday.
Individual workouts and weightlifting will resume May 1. Goedde doesn’t envision significant changes to the coaching staff either.
La Salle still needs to fill four or five open dates on its schedule next season. The Lancers start the season at home against Shroder. The Ohio High School Athletic Association season starts Nov. 30.
