Oran hires boys hoops coach, AD

Joe Shoemaker has accepted the position as boys basketball coach and athletic director at Oran High School.

Shoemaker leaves Advance after leading the Hornets basketball team for the past four seasons.

Shoemaker did not return phone messages left for him Wednesday inquiring about his decision.

"We've of course seen him over the years coach and do some things," Oran superintendent Mitch Wood said. "He was in our system before he started. He student-taught here a little bit and he was originally from here. He went to school here, so we kind of know Joe. Basketball coaching, we think he does a good job with. Further than that, we think he's a real good person. He's a good person to represent our school and to be around our kids."

Wood said there were approximately 15 applicants for the position.

Shoemaker, who will teach physical education, replaces Denver Stuckey, who served as athletic director and boys basketball coach with the Eagles for two seasons.

"I've seen him the last few years and he adapts well to the kind of kids he has," Wood said. "We are very fortunate at a small school when we open a job up to get somebody with experience. And with him having the varsity experience he's had, and like I said being from here and knowing the community and knowing the people, ... we know what we're getting. It's not like it's going to be a surprise. That's really what sold it for us."

Advance searching for coach, AD

With Shoemaker's departure, Advance has begun the search for a new boys basketball coach and athletic director.

Advance principal C.A. Counts said no timetable has been set on when to fill the two positions, which he added have been posted on successlink.com.

"We're just in the middle of the search process," Counts said. "We have had some applicants in. We're just still in the middle of getting this process started. I really don't want to start saying a lot about who we've got or anything like that. We have started receiving applications in and we'll just find the best person for our program. We're going to pursue all options. We have some options if somebody wouldn't be interested in the athletic director position. We're just going to wait until we have all applicants, interview our people and then decide from there."