Aaron Jenniges takes over for a program that has made it to state the past two years
Seton Catholic has a new boys basketball coach.
Aaron Jenniges, who has coached the junior varsity squad the past four seasons, is now the head coach.
Kris Small has left the program to spend more time with his family. Small led the Cougars to back-to-back Class 1A state tournament appearances.
“I learned in the Marines: ‘Leave it better than you found it.’ I feel 100 percent comfortable leaving because I know it’s better than when I found it,” Small said.
His children, 12 and 10, are getting older and have many different sports and activities. Small said he wanted to be there for them.
“All they’ve ever known of me is as a basketball coach. I’ve had to leave their events to go to basketball,” Small said. “I want to see the whole thing. I want to be there for them.”
Small told Phil Kent, Seton Catholic’s athletic director, that it was time.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t love Seton. I love basketball. I love the kids. But I want to put my family first,” Small said.
Kent thanked Small for the job he did at Seton Catholic. Kent is also looking forward to the future.
Jenniges grew up in Indiana, where basketball is king. He played on the scout team at Valparaiso University.
“Jenniges runs a full-court, pressure defense and an up-tempo style offense,” Kent said in a press release. “He looks forward to cultivating the basketball program from the ground up, beginning with building a strong youth program. He’s excited about the young players coming up and is looking forward to a smooth transition.”
