The Merrillville Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees approved the appointment of Kelly Kratz as the Pirates’ girls’ varsity head basketball coach at its meeting last night.
Kratz has served as girls’ varsity assistant coach under head coach Amy Govert since 2014. During her years as the assistant, the girls’ team won four sectionals and one regional, and they were regional runner-up twice.
From 2015-18, Kratz served as the Pirates’ head girls’ track coach. Kratz teaches world history at Merrillville High School.
“We anticipate a smooth transition, and we are excited to welcome Kelly to our Pirate Family of head coaches,” said Janis Qualizza, Merrillville High School director of athletics.
“She has a good understanding of the expectations of our school and community.
“We are confident that she will do an excellent job of preparing our young ladies for what lies ahead of them on the court, in the classroom and in life,” Qualizza added.
Kratz attended Valparaiso University, where she was on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 2010 after playing four years at VU. Along with her Bachelor of Arts degree, she has her master’s in secondary education.
Kratz’s first job teaching was at Valparaiso High School for one year. She moved to Detroit where she taught for two years. She returned to the Region and taught at Chesterton one year before coming to Merrillville.
She is a graduate of Chesterton High School, where she was a standout athlete in both basketball and track. Her husband Tim is a great fan of the girls’ basketball program. The couple have three children: Mel, 5; Timothy, 3; and Kayla, 2.