Scott Kibby admits the timing is awkward.

He was supposed to be the point man for Cedar Rapids Jefferson in its search for a new football coach, but that changed last week when he accepted a new job as the athletic director at Iowa City West beginning this summer.

Kibby has been Jefferson's athletic director for 10 years, but he doesn't think he should continue to run the search for a new football coach now that he's leaving.

"It's not ideal," he said.

Jefferson High School principal Chuck McDonnell would have made the final decision on hiring a new coach anyway, and now McDonnell is running the search process as well.

"He took the lead on that, just because it was awkward," Kibby said. "It just wasn't going to feel right for me. It's not fair to the school, either."

The search for a new football coach could be starting from scratch, the Metro Sports Report has learned.

Jefferson tried to lure Marv Cook away from Iowa City Regina, but Cook declined. The J-Hawks offered the job to Hempstead Coach Mark Ehlers, but he also declined.

Rich Turner, the head coach at Limestone High School in Bartonville, Ill., last season, was interviewed by Jefferson but took a job at another school. Brian Webb, the head coach at Carroll Kuemper High School, also interviewed but declined comment when contacted on Saturday.

Football coaches like to know who they'll be working for, so Jefferson may have to hire a new athletic director before it can successfully hire a new coach.

McDonnell could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Jim Womochil resigned as Jefferson's football coach in January to become a volunteer assistant coach at Iowa State. The J-Hawks have lost 22 straight games, so the new coach will face a rebuilding job.

"I think it's a great opportunity to have a new leader," Kibby said. "We all feel we're not that far off."

Kibby, 47, has spent more than half his life at Jefferson as a student, teacher and athletic director. His appointment at Iowa City West must be approved at a school board meeting on March 20, and pending approval he'll succeed Marv Reiland at Iowa City West on July 1.

Kibby said he's looking forward to his new job and glad he's staying in the Mississippi Valley Conference, but acknowledged it will be strange to change school colors.

"I love my school. I always will," he said.

Jefferson's next athletic director could find a present when he or she reports for duty. "I think I have a couple of nice Jefferson coats that I'll leave for the next person," Kibby said.