JANET RESIGNS AS COACH AT ND

Chris Janet, athletic director at Notre Dame High School, told the Southeast Missourian Tuesday night that he will not coach basketball next year after eight seasons at the Bulldog helm.

Janet said he voluntarily stepped down to concentrate his efforts on the overall athletic program.

"This is a decision that I was a part of," Janet said. "This is a good time for change, for me and for Notre Dame High School.

"We are thinking that this will give me more time to do the duties of athletic director. I did this with the best intentions of the program. We're real excited. Notre Dame has a great opportunity. I really want to focus on the improvement and the growth of the total program."

Janet said that he and principal Sister Mary Ann Fischer talked the issue over and together came to the decision.

Janet, 106-98 over the past eight years, has had his share of ups and downs at Notre Dame.

In 1995, he led the Bulldogs to a district championship with an 18-10 record. A year later, Notre Dame compiled a 22-6 record -- Janet's best season at Notre Dame -- but did not win the district tournament.

Over the last three years, Notre Dame's basketball program has struggled, going 13-13 this past season but 7-17 and 8-15 the two years prior.

Janet, a 1980 graduate of Notre Dame, said he has no intentions of leaving his alma mater, but said "I'm definitely not shutting the door on my basketball coaching career."

A decision has not yet been made whether Janet will continue his duties as golf coach next year.

"Overall, it's been a good experience and I think that a lot of my players can say the same thing," Janet said. "I'll miss the games but I won't totally be out of the picture. I'll be the No. 1 supporter of this basketball program. I want to see its success more than anyone else."

Janet said the school was not yet prepared to announce a replacement, but said "that announcement will be made very quickly."