Odem is looking for an athletic director and head football coach after the school board decided not to renew the contract of David Kleinhans.

Kleinhans said superintendent Mark Parker told him last week he wouldn't be back next season. Although Kleinhans had an idea it might happen, he didn't think the district was in such a hurry to find a replacement.

"I was reading the paper on Sunday looking for a job and saw my job in there," he said. "The board hasn't even met. I thought they would wait to do something until they had a meeting."

The school board is scheduled to meet tonight.

Kleinhans compiled a 73-37 record in 10 seasons at Odem, including a 13-1 campaign in 2001 that ended in the Class 2A Division I state semifinals. The Owls again posted double digit wins three years later with a 10-2 mark.

Odem went 6-4 last season, but a 2-4 finish in District 31-2A kept the Owls out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

Increased pressure from the community forced Parker to make a decision.

"He's been an excellent coach, but you know how it gets when you're not winning and the community starts complaining that a change is needed," Parker said. "I kind of held off, hoping some of the talk would die down, but it didn't. We figured it would be a good time to do it. It's not a real pleasant thing to do, especially when you like somebody, but sometimes the community speaks louder."

Parker said Kleinhans is likely to be reassigned within the athletic department and will remain at the school until his contract expires at the end of the school year. Kleinhans plans to continue his duties for now, but not all of them.

Instead of Kleinhans, Parker and high school principal Brian Roberts will be at the Region 2 Education Service Center on Friday when the University Interscholastic League announces its biennial realignment plan. Besides, Kleinhans has other things on his mind.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do," Kleinhans said. "I don't want to leave the area. Moving is going to be pretty tough. I guess I'm going to have to make a living on my retirement or something."

Parker said the district will continue to take applications for the vacancy until Feb. 8. He hopes to have the vacancy filled by the middle of February.

Contact Javier Becerra at 886-3734 or becerraj@caller.com