Geneva coach Dave Whitcomb was approved last night as the new football coach at Fairport, where the search for Mike Ierlan's replacement lasted six months.

   "He has a big-picture perspective on schools and what kind of commitment kids have to make," Fairport AD Jim Zumbo told the Democrat and Chronicle. "He has been a quality teacher, coach and administrator, but most importantly, he's a quality man."

   Whitcomb has won consistently, including a New York State Public High School Athletic Association at Geneva in 2006, everywhere he has coached. His 182-100-4 record includes Section 5 championships at Avon, Midlakes and Geneva as well as a near-miss in his one season at Aquinas in 1984.

   Whitcomb, who was 72-48 in 12 seasons at Geneva, inherits a team coming off a 3-6 season and a 31-40 mark overall in Ierlan's eight seasons. Shortly before that, Don Santini and Dave Lanning were a combined 205-47-5 with one state title and numbers Section 5 championships.

   Ierlan inherited a program heavily damaged by sniping and bickering within the community as Rich Morgan was shoved out in 2001 after a 2-7 record in his first season -- only to quickly become an enormously successful coach in Virginia soon afterward.

   Whitcomb, 58, feels up to the challenge of rebuilding the various levels of the program. He's done it before, including at Geneva, which was winless in the two years before he arrived.

   "I've always felt that you get to a certain point and

perhaps you've done all you can do and never want to get complacent because then you don't give the kids your best," he said.

   Former scoring king dies: I saw the report that Tom Stith had died at the age of 71 over the weekend, but I hadn't made the connection until NYSSWA member Steve Grandin pointed out that Stith was on the 2,000-point career scoring list in basketball.

   It turns out that Stith, a legend at St. Francis Prep in Brooklyn, finished his career in 1957 with 2,119 points for a state record that stood until 1970. He remained the New York City career leader until Tony Crandall left Baldwin High in 1973 with 2,326 points.

   Stith went on to become a two-time All-American forward and center who averaged 27 points in his college career to elevate St. Bonaventure to the upper echelon in the sport half a century ago.

   "He had a quick first step and he was a smooth player, just fluid,” his older brother, Sam, a guard who teamed with him in Olean, told The New York Times.

   Extra points: The Corning-Painted Post school board approved five spring coaches for the 2011 season: Bob Streeten (boys lacrosse), Kim McNaney (girls lacrosse), John Knapp (baseball), Mike Johnston (softball), and Tim Ball (boys tennis).