Oran's newly promoted baseball coach resigns

~ Paul Bucher also stepped down as the school's varsity volleyball coach days before practice will begin

By Rachel Crader ~ Semoball.com

Oran graduate Paul Bucher, who was hired to take over as coach of the school's state championship baseball team June 18, handed in his letter of resignation Wednesday.

Bucher, who also serves as the school's volleyball coach, stepped down just days before practices for fall sports begin Monday.

Oran superintendant Mitch Wood confirmed Bucher's departure but not the reason behind it.

"I know he's resigned," Wood said. "We got a letter of resignation. If you want to know that, you probably just need to talk with him."

Bucher said he had no comment when reached by phone Thursday.

Bucher, a 2006 Oran graduate and former Eagles baseball player who served as an assistant coach last season, was set to replace Wood, who compiled 440 wins in 21 years as the school's baseball coach. The Eagles advanced to 10 final fours under Wood, and claimed their first state title last season in his final game as coach.

Bucher was a member of two final four teams at Oran, and the chance to coach the Eagles was thought to be his dream job.

"It's just awesome," Bucher told the Sikeston Standard Democrat just after he was hired. "I waited up and got the text from coach Wood that night. It's hard to describe. Coming back to your hometown and taking over a program that you played for is special. I would like to thank the town, school and community for the opportunity."

Now the school is searching for his replacement at an inconvenient time.

"I think it's going to be difficult," Wood said about finding a replacement so close to the start of the school year. "We'll just have to see what happens with it. We've got some people in-house, the assistant volleyball [coach] will probably take that at the moment just to make sure because it starts Monday. We're just going to see what we can turn over in the next few days."

Wood laughed off suggestions about whom the school may turn to as Bucher's replacement. He said his first priority is to find someone to teach junior high and high school social sciences when school starts Aug. 22.

"I'd consider anything, but at the same time, right now that's probably the last thing we're concerned on because it's not until spring, so we'll worry about that at that time," Wood said of the vacant baseball coach position. "We'll give the person who [teaches] social studies a chance to look at it, and we'll go from there."