Central hires Huff to coach volleyball

~ Charity Huff takes over the struggling program.

Things have come full circle for Central's volleyball program with the hiring of Charity Huff as head coach.

Huff nearly was hired prior to the 2003 season, but ultimately Maile Gannon took over the Tigers' volleyball team. Huff, who previously was an assistant at Woodland and has coached junior high basketball the last few years at Central, will now get her chance to take over the program after Gannon left to coach at rival Jackson.

"She's always wanted to coach volleyball and get back into it," Central athletic director Mark Ruark said. "It's kind of rare to hire a coach who you almost hired before."

While Huff was hired to take over the reins of the Central program, she will not lead the Tigers during the 2006 season. Huff will miss the coming season while on maternity leave, and Debra Spinner will lead the squad for the coming season on a one-year basis as interim coach. Spinner was an assistant for the Tigers previously from 1998-2000, and was recently hired to take Huff's teaching position at the junior high.

Central's volleyball team finished one of its most successful seasons in years this past season with a 10-18-1 record. The Tigers should have much of their team back with just two seniors on their varsity roster last year.

Dyersburg St. signs Craft

Central graduate Ty Craft has signed with Dyersburg (Tenn.) State Community College to play baseball.

Craft had a big senior season for the Tigers, hitting .432 while playing shortstop.

Dyersburg is coached by Jackson native Robert White. His twin brother George serves as an assistant coach.