St. Michael Catholic High School has hired David Offerle to be a full time Math teacher and its head girls’ basketball coach for the 2016-2017 year.
Mr. Offerle was a Math teacher and head girl’s basketball coach at Arlington High School in Arlington, TN from 2004-2014 and teacher/coach at Cordova High School In TN from 2000-2004. Once arriving in the Fairhope area to be nearer to his wife’s family in 2014, he was hired by Fairhope High School, where he currently teaches Math and is an assistant in the girls’ basketball program.
“What I liked about Mr. Offerle right off the bat,” explains Faustin Weber, St. Michael Catholic High School’s principal, “ is that he’s a very accomplished Math teacher. He’s taught at every level in the high school curriculum, from A.P. Calculus, to A.P. Statistics, to Introductory Algebra. He has a straight Math undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis, and then a graduate degree in secondary education with a Math emphasis. Coupled with his success as a coach, he represents the kind of “Renaissance” person we want our kids to aspire to be.”
“David is a real find for us,“ echoes Paul Knapstein, St. Michael’s Athletic Director. “He’s not well known down here, but I lived in Memphis where he coached and still have a lot of friends there, and they tell me his program was one of the best in the area. Despite being relatively young, he has a ton of head coaching experience and success--in fact, his life time head coaching record is 322-136. In his last three years in Tennessee, his teams were a combined 39-4 in district play, and he’s sent nine of his players to play at the next level, including Chyna Ellis, who now plays for South Alabama. We think he’ll bring a lot of wisdom, passion and competitiveness to our school, and we’re really happy to have him on board.”
Offerle is excited about the dual challenge before him: “I appreciate the opportunity Mr. Weber has given me to help develop a strong math department. I am thankful, too, for the trust Mr. Knapstein has shown in me to start and mold the girls’ basketball program into one that all of St. Michael, the Archdiocese of Mobile and our girls can be proud of.”
David and his wife Elizabeth have been married for thirteen years. They have two daughters, Payton (age 11) and Mary Kathryn (8) and are members of Christ the King parish, where David is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
———
With the hire of Offerle, St. Michael has now completed its head coaching staff for the woman’s JV program in 2016-2017, with Missy Williams leading the volleyball program, Offerle in basketball, and Knapstein in soccer.
Athletic Director Knapstein is quick to add: “Don’t worry, gentlemen! Mr. Weber and I have been interviewing some outstanding football, basketball and soccer coaches— it’s just taking some time to get the right fit with everything else. We’re looking for the best, and hope to make some announcements in the not-too-distant future.”