MARS — Mars Area School District will work with Amy Schafer, Thiel College’s director of athletics, to complete its search for a new varsity head football coach.

The board approved hiring Schafer as a consultant at a meeting Tuesday night at a cost of $1,200 plus mileage. Schafer will facilitate the interview process for the district.

Superintendent Mark Gross said the decision was made because the longtime previous football coach, Scott Heinauer, also is the district’s athletic director.

“In order to protect him, to keep him out of the limelight of who’s hired and who’s not hired, we’re basically asking for a consultant to step in to help the district hire a football coach,” Gross said. “Amy Schafer is from Thiel College, in the northwest, and it’s far enough away from Mars that we feel that we have a neutral party.”

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