Chris Vecenie can’t wait to get started.

Basketball season is six months away, but the new Shenango High girls coach is ready to go.

Last night, the Shenango Area School District hired Vecenie by a 9-0 unanimous vote. He will be paid $3,999, representing Step 1 of the board approved 2008-09 athletic coaches salary schedule.

Athletic director Jan Budai was a part of the interview process, but does not have a vote. According to Budai, Vecenie stood out from nine candidates who were interviewed.

“He’s young, but he’s energetic and full of enthusiasm,” Budai said. “What he doesn’t have is a lot of experience, but we hope his enthusiasm will make up for it. We hope he can get the girls program back to the level we think it should be.”

Vecenie, 26, was hired as a chemistry teacher at the high school last year. He served as a volunteer assistant coach on the girls basketball team last season and is also an assistant varsity and junior high track and field coach.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said Vecenie, who served as a JV girls coach at McGuffey for three years and as an assistant track coach at Peters Township for four years before coming to Shenango.

“I’ve been with the program for a year and now I can develop my own plan with the girls.”

Vecenie is a 2000 graduate of Shaler High, where he played football, basketball and ran track for four seasons. He competed in football and track at Allegheny College.

He replaces Joe Gierlach, whose position was opened in early March. In three years at the helm, Gierlach compiled a 19-52 record. Shenango failed to make the WPIAL playoffs in each of those seasons. Last year, Shenango went 7-17 and finished in last place in Section 2-AA with a 1-11 mark.

“They worked very hard last year,” Vecenie said. “We were a little on the small side to be honest and played a similar style we played when I was in high school. I plan to get a system in place that will adapt to they type of players we have.

“Last year we played with two guards and three forwards. I plan to run a different style with four guards and one forward.”

“The talent level in the section is evenly distributed,” Vecenie said. “Riverside tends to be strong, but everyone seems to be in the mix.”

The Lady Wildcats will graduate two of their top scorers from last season. Vecenie must replace Brittany Mendel (10.7 points per game) and Danielle Dado (6.8).

Kara Monceaux leads the list of returnees. The 5-foot-5 guard had a breakout season with 21 3-pointers.