CENTRAL'S REUTZEL

According to Brett Reutzel, it was a career opportunity he simply could not pass up.

So Reutzel, the head boys basketball coach at Cape Girardeau Central High School for the past five years, will be giving up his position with the Tigers to take over the Fredericktown High School boys basketball program next season.

But, while Reutzel is excited about his new coaching challenge, athletics is not the primary reason he's switching schools. It's the other' part of his job, the one where he gets the bulk of his salary.

"I've said all along that I'm a teacher first and a coach second," said Reutzel. "From that standpoint, this is really a step up for me."

What enticed Reutzel, who has been a Spanish teacher at Central, the most about the move is a chance to get into something of an administrative position -- not to mention the fact he'll be taking a significant step up financially.

In addition to his duties as the Black Cats' coach next school year, Reutzel will be the coordinator of Fredericktown's A+ program. The program basically helps students choose careers pathways and then keeps track of their progress, making sure they are taking the course work that will guide them into the fields they pursue.

"Basically, it's a very good opportunity for me and my family," Reutzel said. "It's somewhat of an administrative position, which is the direction I'm wanting to take, and it's obviously a nice increase in salary for me.

"It's just a step up as far as I'm concerned, not necessarily basketball speaking, but in my career. It's something I just couldn't pass up."

The 36-year-old Reutzel, who is married with two school-age children, has been a Spanish teacher and coach of various sports in the Cape Girardeau School District for the past 11 years.

A native of Advance, Mo., Reutzel spent five seasons as Central's assistant boys basketball coach before being elevated to the top spot. Reutzel's five-year record as the Tigers' head coach is 62-68, which includes a 21-7 mark and Class 4A district title during his first season.

After going 11-15 in Reutzel's second season, the Tigers went 15-12 and won their first SEMO Conference title in 10 years. The past two seasons have been a struggle for the Tigers as they went a combined 15-34, including a 7-17 mark this year.

But Reutzel said the 2000-2001 Tigers were as special as any group he's coached.

"I've said this a number of times. I've coached a district champion, a conference champion, a (University High School) Christmas tournament champion. This team won seven ballgames, but I had more fun this year than I ever had," he said. "I know that sounds strange coming from a coach because you want to win. But it's high school.

"This was a very unique group of guys who played with heart every day, even in practice. Every day I went to practice with a smile on my face because I knew what they were going to give me."

Reutzel will be taking over a Fredericktown program that went 13-10 this past season for its first winning record in nearly a decade. Chad Starkey, who has coached the Black Cats the past two seasons, recently resigned, although he will remain as the principal of Fredericktown's middle school.

"I kind of began my coaching career here (at Central), I've been involved in the SEMO Conference and playing a lot of St. Louis schools, so this will be a different kind of basketball, but it's still basketball," said Reutzel. "My understanding is it's a school of hard-working young men who are serious about their athletics. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be fun."

Said Fredericktown athletic director Kent Gibbs, "We're real excited about coach Reutzel. He's a class person who runs a class program. He's been successful and I think he gets the most out of the talent he has."

Reutzel, who will finish out the school year at Central, acknowledged that leaving a place where he has spent almost a third of his life will be difficult. But he welcomes a new challenge.

"I have developed a lot of very good relationships here with people. I've developed friendships I'll have for life. I've loved it here and there are all kinds of things and people I'm going to miss," he said. "But this is an opportunity to benefit my family's financial situation, and the good thing is, I get to keep coaching basketball.

"It's a new challenge in my life and I'm looking forward to it."