The search for a boys basketball coach at Neshannock High School is over.

The Neshannock Township School Board voted last night to hire John Corey to replace Jim Smiley. The vote was 8-1, with board member Jim Kearney voting no. Corey was hired at a salary of $6,981.

“Our board picked the best candidate,” Neshannock Superintendent Dr. Mary S. Todora said. “It’s who is best for the kids.

“I’m happy with the selection of Corey and the applicants we had, too.”

Also said to be in the running for the job were Brian Fadden, a junior varsity coach at Mohawk and Ken Locke, a junior high coach at Neshannock.

Corey, 30, and a seventh-grade science teacher at New Castle, was an assistant men’s basketball coach at Westminster College last season, his only one in that capacity. Prior to that, he was the head boys basketball coach at Struthers (Ohio) High School for four years.

“I’m extremely excited to get back to the high school level,” Corey said. “A lot of people have asked me why I would want to do that but there’s so much teaching that goes on at the high school level.

“I have an opportunity to be a positive impact in their lives. I enjoyed my time at Struthers and getting back to the high school ranks was a goal of mine.”

Smiley, 56, coached the Lancers for 27 seasons and posted a 380-262 record. His position was opened by a 6-3 vote by the board on June 12 following months of controversy brought on by disgruntled parents.

“I’m not concerned at all,” said Corey of the recent issues at Neshannock. “The big goal is to move forward.

“I expect a lot of positive things at Neshannock and that’s going to be our goal.”

Corey is no stranger to replacing long tenured coaches. He took over at Struthers for Joe Fuline, who was at the helm “for 15 or 16 years” according to Corey. Todora is a Struthers native.

“I will work real hard,” Corey said of trying to replace Smiley. “This isn’t anything new; it’s something you deal with it and sometimes it presents new challenges.

“I’m extremely excited to take over the program.”

It’s too early to tell who will be assisting Corey on the bench.