Former Notre Dame coach leads new team into first final four

In a span of less than a year, Cape Girardeau native Don Maurer went from being in the dumps to leading a basketball team into the state's final four for the first time.

"It's funny how things work out sometimes," Maurer said.

After he was fired last year following 14 mostly solid seasons as the boys' basketball coach at St. Louis University High School, Maurer landed at Mary Institute-Country Day School, another private high school in the St. Louis area.

The MICDS Rams (27-3) will play Nixa in the Class 3A semifinals in Columbia, Mo, tomorrow. It's the first final four appearance for the Rams as well as for Maurer.

"It's quite a thrill," Maurer said. "I've had some good teams but was just never fortunate enough to get there."

Maurer, a Notre Dame High School graduate, was the coach at his alma mater for six seasons from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. He led the Bulldogs to one Class 2A quarterfinal appearance.

Maurer left Cape Girardeau in 1985 to become a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois, where he spent two years. Then came 14 seasons as SLUH's head coach and he led the Jr. Billikens to one Class 4A quarterfinal berth.

But after a sub-par season last year at SLUH, Maurer was ousted -- a move that he said caught him by surprise.

Surprise decision

"I never saw it coming," Maurer, who has a 322-245 career record, said. "The way it all came down really set me back. I was comfortable there and I wanted to retire there.

"But I was fortunate. I landed on my feet. These people gave me a chance and I'm thankful for that. I've had fun away from basketball here. It's just a great place to work and this makes it even better."

Added Maurer, laughing, "They won their league for the first time in 46 years and this is the first time they've been to the final four. These people around here actually think I know what I'm doing."

Maurer is the brother-in-law of Notre Dame girls' coach Jerry Grim, who has led the Bulldogs to several final four appearances.

"It got to be frustrating at family gatherings because he's been so many times," Maurer said. "I told him now at least I've got one."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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