Athletic Director

Howard C. "Dutch" Eyth, a former athletic director at McDonogh School, where he taught and coached for more than 40 years, died Friday of cancer at his home in Parkville. A prominent figure in area sports organizations who influenced generations of athletes, Mr. Eyth was 92. A star college football and baseball player, Mr. Eyth joined the staff of McDonogh in 1931 after graduating from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie-Mellon University. He gained national recognition in 1930 for running 75 yards to score a touchdown against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, coached by the legendary Knute Rockne.

Northeast High principal Joseph Carducci Jr. began interviews for the school's vacant athletic director's position yesterday and his first candidate was the same man he fired in late May."I thought it was a good interview -- he had some good questions and I had some goodanswers," said Bob Grimm, who had been the school's athletic director for 15 years before receiving an unsatisfactory evaluation from Carducci last spring.Carducci, who replaced Joseph Cardamone as principal on Feb. 1, cited philosophical differences between he and Grimm, as well as insubordination, as reasons for the dismissal.

J. Richard Carpenter, Western Maryland College's athletic director for the past 15 years, has announced his resignation, effective July 1.Carpenter, 52, will retain his position as professor of physical education and exercise science, and will coordinate the department's graduate program, college officials said. He was hired at Western Maryland as a physical education instructor in 1969."There has been an evolution in college athletics over the past several years," Carpenter said in a statement.

Chuck Struhar was named interim athletic director at Oakland Mills yesterday by Howard County coordinator of athletics Don Disney. Struhar takes over for Ken Hovet, the Scorpions' athletic director and football coach who is on administrative leave as the county investigates the circumstances surrounding an academically ineligible football player at the Columbia school. The football team forfeited seven regular-season wins and its state playoff berth when it was announced Thursday - two days before the Scorpions were scheduled to open their postseason - that they had used an ineligible player.

Hyman I. "Hy" Zolet, a retired coach and high school athletic director, died of complications from Crohn's disease Monday at Sinai Hospital. The Randallstown resident was 77. Born Hyman Zlotowicz, he attended Forest Park High School and was a star tackle on its football team. He interrupted his schooling to enlist in the Coast Guard, but returned after 1 1/2 years and graduated in 1947. He received the McCormick Unsung Hero award for his performance on the football team and was named to the all-state team.

James R. Dillon, the former athletic director at Old Mill High School and a founder of the state athletic directors association, died Thursday of a bone-marrow disorder at his Annapolis home. He was 65. In his 38-year career, Mr. Dillon helped write the physical education curriculum and academic standards for high school athletes in Anne Arundel County. He was one of the first organizers of the annual meeting of state athletic directors, and in 1987 he was named the nation's top athletic director by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, said Steve Malone, a retired soccer coach at North County High School.

Mount Hebron High School athletic director Mark Cates has been namedthe school's head football coach.Cates, a 40-year-old social studies teacher who has served as an assistant football coach for the past four years, replaces Steve Benninghove, who resigned in December."

Calvert Hall's Lou Eckerl said he "handed in" his resignation as the Cardinals' football coach after five seasons and a 21-32 record.Eckerl, who met with Brother Kevin Stanton, the school's principal, and informed him of his decision yesterday, said he had mixed emotions about the decision."

At least four Northeast High School students have been suspended following a protest today outside the Pasadena school over the principal's decision not to renew the contract of Athletic Director Bob Grimm.Between 250 and 300 students took part in the demonstration. Some carried signs in support of Grimm. They gathered in the student parking lot around 7 a.m. and eventually moved to a curb along Duvall Highway, where many remained until nearly C a.m. -- a half-hour after the bell had sounded to start school.

The Howard County school board voted unanimously yesterday to reinstate the former athletic director of Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, who was suspended after he was implicated in a grade-changing scandal that forced the football team to forfeit a playoff game and its seven regular-season victories. In making its decision, the school board rejected the recommendation of John R. O'Rourke, then superintendent, that Kenneth O. Hovet Jr., who also coached the football team, be fired.