Trying to fill coaching vacancies in Wake County has been made more complicated by a recent hiring freeze and a proposed pay cut that would pay extra-duty employees 30 percent less.

The freeze means schools must either hire internally or wait until a Wake County School System thaw to fill vacant coaching positions. Without teaching positions available to offer prospective candidates, it's been hard to find replacements.

"It's difficult because we don't know about the teaching spots that will be open," outgoing Cary athletics director Kurt Glendenning said.

"We're not exactly at a time where we can create anything."

The longer the freeze, the longer athletics directors must hold out on hiring a candidate from another school.

"The question is: 'How long do you wait?'" Fuquay-Varina athletics director Bruce Hemphill said.

The proposed cut means athletics directors can't be sure to tell possible candidates how much they'll be making.

If passed, it would also lower Wake County's extra duty pay from 10th among state school systems to 65th.

That said, there are a number of high-profile jobs still left open at this time, some of which are close to being filled.

Cary wrestling coach

The shoes left to fill by Jerry Winterton are Bunyan-esque.

Who wants to live up to the 97.4 percent winning percentage or 19 state championships?

Apparently, somewhere between 12-14 applicants do. About five of those are from out-of-state.

Until the hire is made, Winterton will still run the program and is currently organizing the summer training sessions.

Winterton has said he would like to stay on as an assistant, if the new coach would like to have him.

Both current head coaches and club team coaches have applied. The decision should come down before mid-June, if the hiring freeze is lifted before then.

Green Hope boys golf

In eight years, David Allen led Green Hope to a whopping five 4-A team titles.

Now that Allen is stepping down, who do the Falcons turn to in order to keep the dynasty moving on?

This decision could come quicker than any other on the list, as some in-house candidates have emerged.

Whoever takes over Green Hope next season will have six returning players, who by themselves would have still been one of the state's top teams.

Panther Creek boys basketball coach

After L.J. Hepp left the Catamounts for a spot on the staff at the University of South Carolina, PCHS athletics director Todd Schuler wanted continuity and hired assistant Travis Chapman.

With Chapman's family moving to Atlanta next month, now Schuler is looking again.

This was perhaps the earliest position to be posted, almost immediately after the season ended - which means Schuler has had plenty of time to interview candidates.

A new coach might have already been named were it not for the hiring freeze. Expect this one to be announced days after the freeze thaws.

Fuquay-Varina girls basketball coach

The wreckage left by accusations of a sexual relationship between the former coach and a former player will be hard to overcome for the next girls basketball coach at Fuquay-Varina.

The first priority, as with any opening, is to find the best candidate. But this candidate will have to win back the trust of a damaged team.

One thing to watch with this opening is Hemphill's attitude towards openings.

"You'd like to have your first choice as someone within the school," Hemphill said. "The teacher has a much better feel of what's going on in the school."

Hemphill tabbed then-assistant coach Ryan Habich to take over the football team and it's worked wonderfully.

As with all of Fuquay's openings, there is internal interest in this vacancy.

Middle Creek cheerleading coach

Rather than having to start counting Wake County championships on both fingers and toes, Sonya Ehinger stepped down this year.

Her Mustangs cheer squads have won a national title, four straight conference titles and six consecutive Wake County championships.

This position has also been out for awhile, and the next person will have to continue a long history of winning.