Delta's White reveals his retirement plans

After leading the Delta girls basketball team to seven district titles in his seven years as its head coach, Randy White will retire at the end of the school year.

"It's not anything new, it's just new that the word got out," White said. "I told our superintendent at the first of the school year that this was going to be my last year."

White, who also will retire from his position as a physical education and health teacher, said his decision is based on his desire to spend more time with his family.

He added that his wife, Phyllis White, will retire in early April from her management position with J.C. Penney Co.

"We've got three grandchildren and a couple daughters, and I want to be able to spend some more time with them," White said.

The Whites have a daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren living in Spring Hill, Kan. They also have a daughter living in Muskegon, Mich.

He said there is a possibility he and his wife could relocate to live closer to their family. He added he enjoys coaching basketball and would consider returning to it.

"We just haven't decided where we want to relocate yet, or exactly when," White said. "We haven't decided for certain exactly what we're going to do. I still enjoy the coaching. I would like to eventually get back into coaching. It's just something that I've always enjoyed. It depends on where we're going to locate."

White, who posted a 166-28 record at Delta and a 439-207 record in 25 years as a head coach, led the Bobcats to a second-place finish in Class 1 this past winter. The Bobcats lost to Northeast Cairo 54-32 in the state championship game March 14.

White also helped the Bobcats to Class 1 third-place finishes in 2003 and 2006.

White said this season was a great deal of fun for him, and he enjoyed working with the senior class.

"It was an extremely enjoyable year because of the type of kids we have," White said. "Those kids, they have worked so hard all the way through school. In junior high, the group of seniors we have now were 30-0. They lost to one team their freshman year. They lost to one team their sophomore year. ... They just lost one last year. That group of kids, they're winners. They may not have been the most athletic group that you see, but they know how to win and they really played together well."

White said Bobcats assistant coach Gary Poyner has applied for the position, but he does not know whether others have expressed interest.

White said that the dedication of the players in the program was one aspect of his job he liked the most.

"It's really been enjoyable coaching here," White said. "We've got great kids over here. You just couldn't ask for better kids. And the administration and the board has just been awesome to work with. It's really been an enjoyable experience."