Former junior varsity boys basketball coach Mike Niles has been hired as the girls varsity basketball coach. Niles, who is a physical education teacher at Cooperstown, replaces Frank Miosek, who resigned his position last month.

Before coming to Cooperstown three years ago, Niles was the varsity boys basketball coach at Unatego for three seasons, and has also coached junior varsity girls soccer and junior varsity baseball at Cooperstown.

``I was hoping to find someone with prior varsity coaching experience, and someone who has coached girls’ sports before, and Mike has done both,’’ said Cooperstown athletic director Mike Cring. ``Plus, as a teacher at the school he can interact with the kids on a daily basis, which is a definite benefit.’’

Niles will inherit a team that returns all five starters from last year’s 13-8 team, which lost in the Section Three Class C semifinals to Little Falls.

``I’m definitely walking into a good situation,’’ Niles said. ``I think six of the top eight girls are seniors and we have very experienced players.’’

Niles said he will implement a similar style to that of Cooperstown boys varsity coach Dave Bertram, who likes to press and trap.

``We’re going to run and trap and get after people defensively,’’ Niles said.

A full preview of the team will appear in next week’s Town Crier.

Allen Ruffles, a senior at Oneonta State and a student teacher at Cooperstown, will replace Niles as the junior varsity boys coach at Cooperstown. Ruffles is an Edmeston High School graduate.

In other winter sports news, Cooperstown will field a bowling team for the first time, and former bowling professional Gus Lampo will coach the team.

``We’re very fortunate to have someone of Gus’s stature running the program,’’ Cring said. ``Bowling is a life sport and a nice addition to our programs.’’

Cring said 10 boys and two girls are on the team, and they were hoping to add more girls before the season begins later this month. The team will host its home matches at the Clark Sports Center.