McCord leaves Central

Citing a desire to be closer to family, Derek McCord has left his position as the Central boys basketball coach to take the same position at Dyer County, Tenn.

The move brings McCord closer to his family in Kennett, Mo., and Jonesboro, Ark., as well as his wife's family in Memphis, Tenn.

"You go through this journey called a coaching career and what gets lost sometimes is what's most important, and that's your family," McCord said. "It's kind of unique. It puts both of us closer to our family.

"I've labored over this decision several weeks. Change is scary, but then also a bit exciting."

At Dyer County, McCord will have a familiar face at his side. Scott City star Jon Beck, who played under McCord, will be an assistant for McCord.

"What an awesome situation to get back together with one of the best players I've coached in Jon Beck," McCord said.

In five seasons under McCord, the Tigers finished with a record of 65-67. Central finished with winning records in three of McCord's final four seasons, and was 61-46 over his final four seasons after a 4-21 finish his first season in charge of the Tigers.

McCord came to Cape Girardeau following a highly successful 10-year stint at Scott City that included four district crowns.

Despite several promising seasons, McCord never could quite get it rolling at Central as he had previously at Scott City. The Tigers failed to capture a district title in his five seasons on the bench, and Central made the district finals only twice in that time. Central's last district title came in 1997.

Central athletic director Mark Ruark said the challenge now is to find a qualified coach to bring the Tigers to the next level.

"Five years ago, when Derek came aboard after the success he had with Scott City, everyone here thought Derek was the coach to bring this program to the next level," Ruark said. "For a variety of reasons, that hasn't happened."

Before coming to Central, McCord did not suffer a single losing record at Scott City, and during a five-year period spanning the 1995-96 season to the 1999-2000 season the Rams went 133-17 and won four district titles.

The closest the Tigers came to a district title was in McCord's second season, as Central pushed Poplar Bluff in the district championship game. Central led late in the game before the Mules came back to capture the title. Poplar Bluff won the district all five years of McCord's tenure and won back-to-back state titles in 2004 and 2005 behind Tyler Hansbrough, an All-American at North Carolina his freshman season.

"We've averaged 16 wins the last four seasons," McCord said. "Our league has been dominated by Poplar Bluff, but when you see Tyler Hansbrough doing the things he did to you against Duke, you don't feel too bad."

Central and Ruark will be under the gun to find a replacement, as the school year looms a little more than a month away.

"Our goal is to move as quickly as we can," Ruark said. "My timetable is to have someone in by Aug. 1 or sooner."

After a 15-year run under coach Dick Wadlington in which the Tigers won seven district titles and a state championship, Central's last three coaches have each lasted just five seasons. And while Wadlington suffered just two losing seasons before stepping down after the 1990-91 season, the Tigers have suffered seven losing seasons in the 15 years since Wadlington's last season.

Ruark said he would like to see the program reclaim its past tradition and get to a point where it is not only competing for a district title every year but also for a place in the state final four.

"That's a tall order, but I think my philosophy as an athletic director is to set our goals high," Ruark said.

The task for Ruark was made even more complicated with assistant Will Johnson also leaving the program. Johnson is returning to his home town of Conway, Ark., to coach.

"He's certainly been someone we would have considered for the head coaching position," Ruark said.

Ruark said the school's first objective is to hire a head coach, and from there the new coach will have input into the assistant positions.

Central will be one of six schools within the 10-team SEMO Conference to change coaches since last season. Notre Dame, Jackson, Sikeston and Charleston will be the only conference schools to retain their coaches.

Ruark said he feels the Tigers should be able to find a strong candidate to bring the squad to the next level.

"I would think it would be an attractive position," Ruark said.

Looking to next year, the Tigers will lose four seniors from last year's roster, with starting forward David Deisher the biggest loss among the four. Speedy guards Jajuan Bell and Adrian Cox should be back as well as several other key contributors.

Questions surrounding the return of senior-to-be Darnell Wilks, the team's top scorer and one of the area's top players, have circulated throughout the summer. The school has received no information about a change of status for Wilks for the upcoming year.

---

McCord seasons

2001-2002: 4-21

2002-2003: 17-10 (lost in district finals)

2003-2004: 17-9

2004-2005: 12-15

2005-2006: 15-12 (lost in district finals)