Payne steps down as Central football coach

The Central football team achieved record-breaking success during its turnaround season.

But the man who spearheaded the Tigers' about-face won't be around to build on that success.

Rich Payne, who became the Central coach in May 2008, stepped down from the position Thursday.

"It's tough to walk away, but at the same time, I felt like I've left the program in good order and restored the shine to the Cape football program," he said. "For that, I'm thankful. At the same time, I'm happy that we've turned the program around and we've got it in good order. Now it's someone else's responsibility to continue the winning ways."

Central athletic director Lance Tollison said he doesn't anticipate the position will be vacant for long.

"We're going to move pretty quickly on this," Tollison said. "I don't want to put a timeline on this, but it's not going to drag on."

Tollison refused to answer if he already has a person in mind for the position.

"I can't comment on that just yet," he said.

Tollison said he anticipates conferring with Central principal Mike Cowan to identify the right person for the job.

"I'll have quite a bit of input on this and look forward to getting someone in there solid that wants to continue what Rich has done," Tollison said.

Payne replaced Lawrence Brookins, who led the Tigers from 1999 to 2007. The start of Payne's reign at Central started poorly.

The Tigers went 1-9 in Payne's first year, then they suffered through a winless 2009 campaign, finishing 0-10.

The memory of the winless season quickly dissipated with the success of this year's team. Payne's squad reeled off eight victories to start the campaign before losing to Sikeston in a Class 4 District 1 contest.

The Tigers regrouped to defeat Perryville to qualify for the playoffs, and knocked off De Soto 61-28 for Central's first playoff win since 2002.

The Tigers' season ended with their second loss to Sikeston, a 40-0 setback in a Class 4 sectional game.

Central's 10 wins matched the school record for victories, which the program accomplished three times before this season.

"It was very enjoyable," Payne said. "It was the highlight of my career as a coach, this season, for a number of reasons. Mainly for the kids and how the kids were successful and we were successful as a program."

The Central offense experienced little resistance except against Sikeston. The Tigers set program records for rushing yards, offensive yards, points scored and first downs. Central even broke into the state poll, climbing as high as No. 9.

"We're indebted to him because he took the program and turned it around, which is very important for us," Tollison said. "If anything, he accomplished what he set out to do. We're definitely indebted to that with him. We appreciate that 100 percent. There's no fault in anything he's done here because he's done an incredible job."

Payne serves as the director of the Career and Technology Center.

"Rich has an enormous amount of responsibility with his administrative position," Tollison said.

Payne, an Olney, Ill., native, has been a part of the football community in Southeast Missouri since the early 1980s. He played at Southeast Missouri State in 1981 and 1982. After a year as a graduate assistant football coach at Western Illinois University, he returned to Cape Girardeau.

He continued his football career as an assistant under three coaches at Southeast, worked under three coaches at Central, then stepped away when he got into administrative work at Central before taking the coaching job in May 2008.

Payne admits his football coaching career may not be over yet.

"I think that now that this decision has been made, I need to reflect on what is next for Rich Payne," he said. "I have a passion for the game of football. I can't rule it out and I can't say that's not something that's going to be in my future.

"I've got a wonderful position within the Cape Public Schools and I will continue to do that job well, to the best of my ability and explore all options in football and outside of football."