Mark Lieberman was approved by a 5-2 vote Monday night as Floyd Central’s new boys’ varsity basketball coach.

“I’m always excited for a new challenge,” Lieberman told Hoosier Hills Hoops immediately following the school board meeting. “We can’t look back, we’re going to look forward … I want to help create a culture on this team of excitement. I know it’s going to be a process, and I’m looking forward to that.”

Lieberman spent two years working under University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino – one as an assistant coach and one as director of basketball operations. Lieberman most recently served on the coaching staff at Florida International, his alma mater, this past season under Pitino’s son, Richard.

Prior to coaching at the collegiate ranks, Lieberman was at Monsignor Pace High School for 13 seasons, leading the Miami prep power to four state championships as head coach and one as assistant. He compiled a 335-95 record while head coach.

“(Indiana high school basketball) is a hot bed, a mecca. It’s legendary,” he said. “I’m excited for this challenge.”

Lieberman replaced Randy Gianfagna, who compiled a 63-93 in his seven seasons.

Kyle Clough, who was named Seymour boys’ basketball coach on Wednesday, joined Matt Denison via telephone on Thursday’s High School Sports Report radio program on 1450 The Sports Buzz.

After two years of junior college to improve academics, New Albany native Chris Whitehead will finish his college basketball career at the Division I level.

Whitehead, a Class of 2011 high school graduate, gave a verbal commitment Friday to Fordham University in New York City.

“I think I have a good shot to get some playing time right away,” said Whitehead, who is finishing spring classes at Danville Area Community College in Danville, Illinois. “That was the main thing. All I want to do is play, especially coming out of junior college.”

The former Bulldog star was named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II first-team All-American, helping Danville Area to a 28-4 record with averages of 12.3 points and 4.8 assists per game. He was also honored as Region 24 and Mid-West Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

“I expect to get an opportunity to handle the ball and get in the lane and make plays,” added Whitehead, who intends to sign a National Letter of Intent with his new school Monday.

Fordham, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, finished 7-24 last season.

“I played with the (Fordham) team twice during my visit and felt like I could help them,” he said. “You can always turn (a bad record) around.”

Whitehead had collected scholarship offers from Southern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Colorado and Tulane, among others, Danville head coach Mike Carpenter told Hoosier Hills Hoops.

All rosters and schedules for the Hoosier Hills Hoops 2013 Spring Basketball League, with locations at Charlestown and Eastern Greene, are now online here.

New Albany native Abby Scharlow, a women’s basketball assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, spoke with Matt Denison on Monday’s edition of Inside Kentuckiana Sports about her collegiate coaching career and the recent success of the school’s men’s basketball squad.

Mike Gandolfo, recruiting coordinator for the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic, dropped by Thursday’s High School Sports Report to chat about the annual top-flight all-star game.

The all-star game’s prelude, Night of the Future Stars, which includes a slam dunk and 3-on-3 contest, will be held Thursday, April 18, at Floyd Central High School. The game will be played the following night at Freedom Hall in Louisville.