In 53 seasons of men’s basketball at Barton Community College, the school announced their 12th coach Tuesday. The Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Jeremy Coombs to replace Craig Fletchall. Fletchall retired following 16 years as the head coach.
Coombs spent the past 14 years at Neosho County Community College, within the same Jayhawk Conference the Cougars compete in.
Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman says a search
committee of six or seven people was put together to hire someone right away.
"There is a timeframe within the basketball arena of recruiting and getting the word out," said Heilman. "That was a shadow of the committee, operating within a timeframe. It could not be for three or four months."
Heilman noted he was not sure on the number of applications submitted for the coaching
position, but added he relies heavily on the search committees in these
situations.
"We wanted the experience of course of coaching at the community college level," said Heilman. "Understanding the importance of fitting the individual to the institution and the dynamics of the community college world."
Fletchall announced his retirement April 19 and Coombs was
approved just over three weeks later.