QUICK READ: Krieg has his hands full this summer

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St. Charles East has three coaching vacancies for the 2009-10 season, and if athletic director Jerry Krieg has anything to say about them – and he does – the searches will take care of themselves.

“We have a lot of good candidates for each opening,” Krieg said. “It’s a good place to work, so there’s never any shortage.”

Krieg plans to tackle the voids in chronological order, meaning he hopes to make a girls soccer hire by next week and hold preliminary interviews with prospective baseball coaches in the next few weeks.

After that, he’ll do the hokey pokey and begin searching to replace boys volleyball coach Stephanie Gooden, who resigned her position after three seasons last week.

Commuting from DeKalb and raising a family factored largely into Gooden’s decision. She had her second child with Northern Illinois University women’s volleyball coach Ray Gooden in April, shortly after accepting the girls volleyball job at DeKalb High.

“She lives there, she has a family there,” Krieg said. “It’s difficult for her to run a program from that distance, and I respect that.”

Former girls soccer coach Pat Feulner knew that reality in seven seasons at East, teaching at Waubonsie Valley during the day before returning to his native St. Charles for practices and games.

He’ll teach and coach in tandem at the new Metea Valley High School, reuniting with former Saints football coach Ted Monken. East hired former Geneva assistant Mike Fields to replace Monken in March, right about the time rumors were floating about Brian Clodi’s boys’ basketball job. East ended up retaining Clodi.

“We’ve had a couple things in the fire this year,” Krieg said.

Scott signs with Wesleyan: Zach Scott is leaving East himself, but that was part of the deal when he entered the school’s halls four years ago.

On Thursday, the soon-to-be graduate signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington beginning in the fall. Scott sees himself as an option at shortstop but is also bracing for a move or three around the diamond.

Fine with him.

“I’ll fill any gap they need,” Scott said. “Shortstop, third base, outfield. I’ve never really been held down to one spot anyway.”

NCAA Division I schools Butler and Illinois-Chicago courted Scott as a walk-on before he selected Division III Wesleyan, where he has played for the Downers Grove Longshots in past summers.

“I liked the school, campus and coach,” Scott said. “It ought to be a good time.”

Hello, horses: The Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne is in the midst of hosting the Showplace Spring Spectacular, featuring riders from around the country, through June 14.

A pair of Grand Prix jumping competitions – for $30,000 on Saturday and $50,000 on June 13 – highlight the event. Admission and parking are free, with various exhibitions and activities taking place from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through the end of the run.

• Kevin Druley is a sports reporter for the Chronicle. Call him at 630-845-5347 or e-mail kdruley@kcchronicle.com.