It’s moving time for Catholic League student-athletes and coaches.

First, the kids. In the fall, some 88 of them — and that number will likely double in the next three or four months — will be taking their academic and athletic skills to colleges mostly in Michigan or Ohio, but as far south as Alabama, as far west as Missouri, as far east as New York, as far north as Wisconsin, even over the border to Canada.

I’m intrigued by some of the choices the kids make. Not everyone is comfortable on the campus of a large university or its corresponding large team rosters.

For instance, Sterling McCarrall and Octaveious Miles from Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice have committed to play football at Johnson C. Smith University. The university is a private, co-ed, historically black four-year research university founded in 1867 in the heart of Charlotte, N.C., affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. It’s a member of the NCAA Division II.

Athletes who want to play college sports and get an athletic scholarship are required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center that involves providing academic transcripts, test scores and answering an amateur status questionnaire. The competition for the scholarships is fierce; more than 180,000 athletes annually register.

Brother Rice athletic director Jeff Calcaterra boils down the process to “relationships,” how athletes sort out the interest they receive from universities and colleges and determine the “right fit” for them academically and athletically.

Speaking of “fit,” McCarrall and Miles, each towering around 6-feet-5 and weighing near 300 pounds, will occupy a lot of space in the Golden Bulls defensive line.

Veronica Norwood of Dearborn Divine Child selected Maryville University in suburban St. Louis to display her soccer talent. Established in 1872 by an order of nuns, the school with 6,400 students is recognized for its wide range of programs in the health professions. That was a selling point for Norwood, surmised Falcons AD Bryan Rizzo, who came over last summer from Madonna University where he was AD for 22 years for the job at Divine Child. (“I’m in the right place at the right time,” he said.)

Hunter Braun, of Novi Detroit Catholic Central’s lacrosse squad, will be attending York University in Toronto. York is Canada’s third-largest university (52,000 enrollment) and has a worldwide reputation for its social work, psychology, business and law programs.

York sponsors 29 what is called “interuniversity” sports, featuring  12 sport clubs and 35 intramural sport leagues.

Now, about the coaches.

Adam Korzeniewski returns to Brother Rice as head football coach. He previously was the team’s defensive coordinator for four seasons from 2010-13, including coaching three state championship teams under the legendary Al Fracassa. He takes over for Dave Sofran, coach the last three years who was released in December.

Brian Barnes is the new football coach at Madison Heights Bishop Foley. His 15 years of experience includes coaching at Harper Woods High and Clawson, and the Detroit Lions youth program. He is a member of Guardian Angels Parish. Barnes succeeds Sean Cobb, who coached the Ventures the last four years.

Ryan Elchuk is the new coach of girls soccer at Bishop Foley, from which he graduated in 2006. Elchuk coached Warren Regina the past six years and, before that for five years, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

Stefano Moraccini replaces Elchuk as soccer coach at Regina. He is currently the coach of boys soccer at Macomb Dakota. He is a graduate of Harper Woods Notre Dame.

Dan Deegan is the new baseball coach at Divine Child. A 1997 alumnus, Deegan was All-State football and captain of three sports at Divine Child. He was all-MIAA conference football selection at Albion. Deegan was inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame in 2001. He succeeds Tony DeMare, who guided the Falcons to four Division 2 state championships.

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Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].