NEFF TO DEPART ND AFTER FIRST YEAR AT HELM

Chris Neff has coached his last basketball game at Notre Dame High School.

After just one year as head coach, Neff recently resigned his position.

Notre Dame, which went 16-11 this past season, was generally regarded as one of the top three or four Class 2A teams in the region.

"We had a great season and I have (received) very few complaints and everyone pretty much thought everything was going in the right direction," said Neff. "I have no regrets and I thought we made some great strides this season."

Neff, who is also a mathematics teacher, said he's looking for a public school position with a more promising financial situation.

He said it is possible that he will stay in the area, but added there is a chance that he may move closer to his home town of St. Joseph in northwest Missouri.

For now, he's leaving his options open.

"If something were to come up in this area, I would give it a look," he said. "I love Southeast Missouri basketball. The fans and the players and the media are extremely passionate around here. I've been around -- my father coached for years, I have a lot of friends in St. Louis and the Springfield areas -- and I don't think you'll find it as good as you do in Southeast Missouri."

Neff has been at Notre Dame for four years. He started as a girls assistant coach under Jerry Grim.

He then coached the junior varsity boys under Chris Janet and later moved up to boys head coach after Janet gave up the job to spend all of his time as athletic director.

"He's a very talented young coach and he's going to do well," said Janet. "He has to make a decision of what's best for him and his family. I respect his decision and wish him the best. He'll do well."

Neff also was Notre Dame's head baseball coach last year and led the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in state. This year he is the assistant baseball coach.

Neff's decision didn't come easy.

"This is a situation where after that district game, I needed to make some decisions and make them in time enough for myself and the people I really care about which is Notre Dame," he said. "Whoever gets the opportunity, is getting a good group and that's the most painful part of this, leaving the team."

Janet said the search for a new coach "will start immediately and will move quickly."

Janet said he is not considering returning as the team's coach.