Sage tabs Tolver football coach, A.D.

Derek McIntyre spent two years away from coaching football until he landed at Sage Hill School in June.

He finds himself out of the coaching game again.

One month after his first season in which he guided a young Lightning team to a 2-8 overall record, McIntyre said Tuesday the private school laid him off in December due to budget issues.

“I was one of the first let go because I was one of the last hires,” said McIntyre, who came to Sage Hill from Justin-Siena High in Napa to coach football, teach physical education and be the assistant director of admissions. “I want to keep coaching. I’ll go wherever there’s an opening.”

Sage Hill has found someone to replace McIntyre. Gregory “J.R.” Tolver, a former NFL and Arena Football League wide receiver, is the new coach and boys’ athletic director at Sage Hill, said Diane Bucka, Sage Hill’s communications manager.

Tolver is the school’s fourth football coach in as many years. He’s the third boys’ athletic director in as many years.

Pete Anderson stepped down after an 8-3 2007 season. Tom Monarch, the school’s first coach, was replaced by Anderson before the 2007 season due to what former athletic director Nate Miller said at the time was a “major philosophical change at the school” to get on-campus teachers to coach, instead of walk-on coaches. Monarch had led Sage Hill to three straight postseason berths.

Tolver takes over as athletic director for Jon Poffenberger, who took over in 2007 for Miller. Bucka said Poffenberger will be Sage Hill’s interim dean.

“We’ve had a lot of changes,” Bucka said.

Another one is the promotion of Megan Cid, a former assistant athletic director. Cid is the new girls’ athletic director.