Heights High hires two basketball head coaches

Karen A. Battle

Two new head basketball coaches will be at the helm of Heights High basketball this fall. Karen A. Battle will be the new girls basketball coach and Heights High graduate Jeremy Holmes will coach the boys’ team.

Holmes returns to his alma mater after coaching this past season at Cleveland Central Catholic, where he led the Ironmen to a 24-5 record and the Division II state title game. Holmes had been an assistant coach for the Heights High boys basketball team for three seasons, prior to being hired by Central Catholic.

Battle is a familiar face to the Lady Tigers at Heights High, where she most recently served as assistant varsity women’s basketball coach. Battle also is a licensed intervention specialist at the high school.

“Our district’s athletic program will be strengthened with these two dedicated professionals,” stated Superintendent Talisa L. Dixon. “They are both committed to first prioritizing the student-athlete’s academic performance which is key to building a stable program.”

Battle brings a wealth of experience to the position, including serving as assistant director of residence life at Notre Dame College, and coaching middle school as head track and field coach at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education degree from Notre Dame College.

Holmes was responsible for the development of the entire basketball program for grades 9–12 at Cleveland Central Catholic, and implemented strategies to encourage young men to be successful, using basketball as the tool for learning. Holmes earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Holmes replaces Andrew Suttell, who resigned in April after serving as the boys head basketball coach for nearly four years. Battle replaces Kim Hansen, who resigned after serving as the Heights High girls head basketball coach for nearly six years. Hansen said, “I’ve loved every minute of coaching and teaching in the Heights. It was hard to go, but I needed to free up some time so I can spend more time with my 87-year-old dad. The basketball team is in great hands. Karen Battle was a loyal and dedicated member of my team and she’s extremely knowledgeable in the sport and she is all about the kids and what’s best for them.”

Cynthia Barnes

Cynthia Barnes is the public relations liaison in the communications and community engagement department at Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District.

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Volume 8, Issue 8, Posted 6:50 PM, 07.20.2015