MCCORD MAY BE IN LINE TO BECOME TIGER COACH

Cape Girardeau Central High School could have a new boys and girls basketball coach as early as today.

A source close to the situation said Thursday that the boys job has been offered to Scott City High School coach Derek McCord and that the school district will hold a special board meeting at 3:30 p.m. today to vote on the candidates.

It is not yet clear if McCord, who has proven to be one of the best coaches in the region by building Scott City's mediocre program into one of the best 2A programs in the state, has accepted the offer. McCord declined to comment on the situation Thursday night.

McCord is 216-70 over his career and a four-time district champion.

Central is also expected to hire Branson High School coach Sheila Midget to run the girls program. Midget has relatives in the area and played basketball at Risco High School and College of the Ozarks.

Cape Central's boys team, under Brett Reutzel, went 7-17 last year. Reutzel resigned and accepted the head coaching position at Fredericktown. The girls team finished 14-11 under Mark Ruark. Ruark stepped down because new principal Mike Cowan's preference was that his assistant principals not coach.

If McCord does not accept the offer, Central will likely pursue former Dexter coach Paul Hale. Hale applied for the position, but eventually withdrew his name. Hale would seem to be a good fit with his son, Brett, preparing to enter his college basketball career at Southeast Missouri State University.

Former Cape Central boys coach and current assistant Dick Wadlington is also in the mix of potential candidates.

Nine-time state champion coach Lennies McFerren was a candidate but the two parties couldn't agree on non-coaching duties and salary.