Cookson replaces Heeb as boys basketball coach at SCC

~ After a season as interim coach, the Missouri Hall of Fame coach was given the official title.

The elk in Colorado will have to wait.

Legendary coach Ronnie Cookson will return to lead the Scott County Central boys basketball team for the 2007-08 season.

"I told them I would help them out if anything happened," Cookson said. "I guess that's what happened. It wasn't my plan. My plan was to go to Colorado elk hunting."

Cookson will also serve as the school's athletic director. The boys basketball coach and AD positions were held by David Heeb for the last two years.

Scott County Central School District Superintendent Dr. Joel. B. Holland confirmed Cookson will serve as AD and boys basketball coach. He declined to offer an explanation for Heeb's ouster from both positions, but did say Heeb will remain with the district as a teacher.

"I would rather not comment on anything further with coach Heeb," Holland said. "The board decided to open up all the coaching positions."

Holland also said Semona Penrod will return as the girls basketball coach.

Holland said the school board decided not to offer extensions for any coaches at its March meeting. He said the board then decided to open all coaching positions at its July meeting. He said it was a unanimous decision.

"There's no entitlement to any extra duty contracts," Holland said.

Cookson's decision to return is a complete reversal from his response two weeks ago when asked if he would coach again this season. Two weeks ago, he said, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Underline that. I don't have any interest in doing it at all. They need to find themselves a younger coach."

Cookson coached the Braves last season after Heeb was suspended for the second semester by the Missouri State High School Activities Association in April 2006. The suspension prohibited Heeb from coaching or attending boys basketball games. Instead of coaching for part of the season, Heeb yielded to Cookson for the entire season. Cookson led the Braves to a 24-5 season.

Cookson led Scott County to 12 state championships during his 25 seasons before stepping down in 1992. Earlier this summer he said he would not return, but changed his mind recently.

"If they need some help, they knew they could depend on me," Cookson said. "That was the only thing. I thought they were going to hire a young guy. I thought they were going to hire someone else. I guess they didn't."

Penrod, who earlier this year stepped down as coach, will return for her 14th season with the Bravettes. She led Scott County to the quarterfinal round in two of the last four seasons. The Bravettes lost in the Class 1 quarterfinals this past season.

"She cares a lot about the kids," Holland said. "She's willing to do whatever the district asks of her."