Cookson's plans for 2008-09 season not definite

COLUMBIA -- The Scott County Central boys basketball team may have the talent to return to the state's final four in the near future, but it is not certain who will be coaching the team.

Ronnie Cookson, who came out of a long retirement last year to take the helm, no longer is adamant that he will not coach the team next year.

"We'll just kind of wait and see what happens between now and next year," Cookson said after Friday's Class 1 third-place game. "I've always told the school that I'm on duty, and if we need to, if something happens, I can be around."

Cookson returned to the helm in 2006-07 after a hiatus of more than a decade. He coached Scott County Central to a state-record 12 state championships in his first stint.

The position has been posted on an Internet jobs board, but Scott County Central superintendent Joel B. Holland said that listing was still up from last year. And it's still producing results.

"We've had a lot of inquiries about it from the area and around the state," Holland said.

Holland noted that the job is attractive based on the program's potential.

"We have some good young kids coming up," he said.

He said the district would like to have Cookson remain involved in some capacity, including if the coach wants to remain the coach.

"I'd love to have him for life," Holland said. "He has been a tremendous influence on the kids and a positive role model. They love him, and they want to be around him all day."

Which may be enough to bring him back for another year.