Wood accepts job as Dexter superintendent

Mitch Wood has worn numerous hats over the last 23 years: teacher, baseball coach, basketball coach, principal, athletic director and superintendent.

All the hats have been emblazoned with the "OE" of the Oran School District.

However, Wood informed school district officials Friday that he will be wearing a hat with a "D" as of July 1 after accepting the superintendent job of the Dexter School District.

"There's only a few schools that I'd be interested in being a superintendent in, and Dexter is one of them," Wood said Sunday night by phone. "I'm excited, but it's tough when you've been somewhere 23 years. I'm very excited about getting a chance and a challenge at another good school district, except larger."

The Oran School District currently has an enrollment of 357 students in grades K-12 , while the Dexter School District has 2,119 students, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

The 49-year-old Wood is best known in Southeast Missouri for his coaching success. In 21 baseball seasons and 10 basketball seasons under Wood's direction, the Eagles did not have a losing season.

"We've been fortunate on that end of it," said Wood, who led the basketball team to two district crowns.

He made his biggest mark on the baseball field, where he turned the Eagles into a perennial power with 15 district titles, 10 final four appearances and one state title.

The elusive Class 1 state championship came in his final game as Eagles coach in 2013, an 8-4 win over Sante Fe. The Eagles posted a 440-134 record during his tenure.

"I always thought you could have good academics and good athletics, and I think we put that hand in hand," Wood said. "We're a very well- performing school, and that's something I'm very proud of, but I can't leave out our baseball program. I'm extremely proud of it and the community and the way it supported us and some of the things we did. We brought the first state championship to Oran in baseball. It'll be something I'll always remember. It was a first for them and a first for me."

Wood spent 18 years as athletic director, five years as high school principal and became the district's superintendent in 2004.

"I feel, and I think a lot of people in my position would agree, that it's probably one of the best small school jobs that there is in this area, Oran is," Wood said. "We just have a very unique grade-school system, so it's very hard to leave. You know it's 23 years of all the players, other assistant coaches, my teachers, and I've just formed a lot of friendships. I've lived here the whole time, so I'm involved with the community.

"I accepted [the job] Thursday, and Friday was a very tough day for me. It's a big move on my end of it, but like I said, I think it's the right move. My two kids are gone out of the house now, so it's just me and the wife, and we just thought it's a good time to make a move if we're going to."

Wood and his wife, Shawn, have two children -- Ryne and Mandi. Ryne, now an optometrist in Cape Girardeau, played on several of his father's district championship teams.

Wood also has served at the director of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament the past eight years. He said he's unsure of his involvement in the future, but said the 16 teams have a scheduled meeting in a couple weeks.

"We'll look at some things at that point," Wood said. "I have no clue what we're going to do on everything."

He does know he will be the superintendent in Oran for the next four-plus months before relocating to Dexter.

"We'll be involved in the community when we get over that way, but I've still got till July here, and hopefully we can find a good fit for the Oran School District."