ND MAKES BLUFF ASSISTANT NEW BOYS BASKETBALL COACH

Darren Scott, an assistant coach at Poplar Bluff High School, has accepted the Notre Dame head basketball position.

Scott, a Southeast Missouri State University graduate, was an assistant at Poplar Bluff from 1993-97. He then was head coach at Greenville High School for two years before going back to Poplar Bluff as an assistant this past year.

"I'm very excited and not just for the opportunity to coach," said Scott. "Teaching (mathematics) at Notre Dame will be a good experience. They have great facilities, a great gym and a great weight room. All around, it's just a great opportunity. I'm looking forward to it."

"We're excited too," said Notre Dame athletic director Chris Janet. "We feel we've hired a real good coach."

Scott, 30, said he prefers an up-tempo style.

"I like to run the floor and press," said Scott. "Coaches like to coach that way, players like to play that way and fans like to watch it. But you have to adjust according to the situation."

Scott, a graduate of Fox High School south of St. Louis, decided late Wednesday night to accept the position.

"I turned down the Caruthersville job and I didn't interview for others because of this opportunity," he said. " I went to school at Southeast and I'm looking forward to living there again."

Scott, one of eight or nine coaches who applied for the position, is married, has a 3-year old child, and is expecting another child next December.

He said he is looking forward to taking over the team which went 16-10 last year and returns several players.

"The only time I got to see them play was against Sikeston in the Sikeston Tournament and they won and played really well," said Scott. "I know they have a strong core of players coming back. The exciting thing for me is the anticipation of getting to know them and building relationships with the players."