Cline will coach reigning Class 2 boys basketball champion Scott County Central

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Scott County Central has found one of its own to take over the vacant boys basketball head coaching position.

Matt Cline was confirmed as SCC's fourth coach in the last seven years Tuesday. Cline will replace three-year coach Frank Staple, who accepted a principal's position at the Sikeston Junior High School in May.

"It feels great," said Cline, who graduated from Scott Central in 1991. "This has been the place where I've always wanted to land. I thought this was the best fit for me and my family, and this school district has given a lot to me over the years. Maybe I can give a little bit back."

Cline was part of three state championships while playing for SCC which came during a run of seven straight from 1985 to 1991. He was also a student-assistant coach at the school for three seasons starting in 2007. Cline's experience with the school and his familiarity with the basketball program was a major draw to his appointment.

"We really felt like Matt would fit the same type of mold that we like that has been successful for so many years," Scott County Central superintendent Al McFerron said. "I think the [Scott County Central school board] really felt comfortable and confident that Matt could continue that type of system and work hard for us."

That same system that Cline grew up on has brought Scott County Central a Missouri record 18 state championships. Cline played varsity for hall-of-fame coach Ronnie Cookson for three years, which included a 33-0 season Cline's senior year in 1991.

Despite the frequent coaching turnover over the last decade, Scott Central has won six state championships since the 2008-09 season.

Staple guided the Braves to back-to-back state titles, with the latest being a Class 2 championship in March. Kenyon Wright won three Class 1 titles from 2010 to 2012, and Cookson, who directed 13 of Scott Central's championships, led the Braves to their first state title in 16 years during the 2008-09 season.

"I know the expectations here are high, but I have high expectations of myself and the boys," Cline said. "It's exciting to come in to a team with such expectations. We've got to really work to keep our program at that level."

Cline has spent the last three seasons at Richland High School, where the Rebels went 16-46. Richland won a state championship in 1996 but hasn't won a district championship since 2001.

"I left a really good situation at Richland," Cline said. "The folks over there were nothing but good to me and I want to thank them for that. I won't say they didn't have the tools, but I really do think it was starting to turn around there. The thing about it was you were trying to change the culture into a winning culture at Richland. You get [to SCC] and it's already there. It's hanging all over the walls. They know the goals at the end of the year and you're not really trying to change the culture here. You're trying to keep it going."