MOUNT VERNON — There are names to go with the two biggest vacancies in the Mount Vernon High School Athletic Department — one officially, one still pending school board approval.

Dave Riddle has been tabbed as the school’s athletic director to replace Eric Monson.

The search to fill the school’s vacant head football coaching position has concluded, Riddle said, and a name has been forwarded to the school board.

Riddle declined to release the name of the prospective coach, but said he comes from outside the school. The school board will vote on confirmation July 23, at which point the nominee will be announced, Riddle said.

Riddle has worked at Mount Vernon High School for the past 12 years. He has been the head coach for the boys’ track and field team, and an assistant with the football and wrestling teams. He was the school’s Dean of Students.

“This was another opportunity within the same place,” Riddle said. “I like being a Bulldog, and I like being involved with athletics. It was a good opportunity for me.”

Monson stepped down at the end of June after 12 years at the helm of the Bulldog sports department.

“I think he’ll do a great job,” Monson said of Riddle. “He has a lot of experience as a middle school and high school coach. He’s coached a variety of sports — wrestling, track, football. He’ll be able to bring a lot of experience to the position.”

Riddle said he doesn’t plan on coaching this year.

“I guess my challenge is going to be to find out what each program needs, and how I can be of service to each sport,” Riddle said. “I’m still learning a lot about the job.”

One of Riddle’s first jobs was overseeing the selection of the football coach, a process that was well under way when he took over the position.

Benji Sonnichsen stepped down in May after three seasons, leaving the program without a head coach and just a short time before summer football camps and the start of fall practices.

Riddle said he doesn’t think the absence of a head coach will be detrimental to the team this season.

“It feels that way because there’s nobody in the post, so people have that feeling, but I don’t think it’s going to be that way,” he said. “For kids to be away from football for a month in the summer, I think it’s healthy. We’ll have somebody in the weight room. I don’t think kids are going to miss a step.”

• Eric Francis can be reached at 360-416-2131 or by e-mail at