McClarty to take over NMCC baseball program

NEW MADRID -- With current head coach John Jones taking over as middle school assistant principal next year, New Madrid County Central's baseball team will have a new but familiar face at the helm.

Taking over the program will be current Eagles assistant coach Joseph McClarty, a graduate and former player at NMCC who has helped coach at the school since 2003.

"I've been on pins and needles for about six weeks now," McClarty said. "So it feels pretty good to know that the decision has been made and to be given this opportunity."

Though this will be his first stint as a head coach at the high school level, McClarty hopes past experiences, plus some time at the helm this season will make for an easy transition.

"In years past there was one year there where Coach Jones actually had to step away and I was the interim head coach," he said. "I got a little bit of experience that way and also earlier in my coaching career, before my kids and family, I was able to coach a summer team. So I've had a little bit of head coaching experience and know kind of what to expect.

"Taking over in a full-time position though, there will still be some things that I need to learn and pick up on, but I know Coach Jones won't mind if I pick up the phone and call him and ask him questions anytime."

McClarty will take over a team that stands at 7-10 after the regular season and is heading in to the Class 3, District 1 Tournament this weekend where they are seeded seventh and play second-seeded Kennett.

No matter what happens in this year's district tournament run, the Eagles should be primed for improvement next season as only one starter, Collin Ivie, will be lost to graduation.

"We'll be returning eight starters and most of those starters it will be their fourth year starting," said McClarty. "So it should be a good group of kids to work with, especially as a first-year head coach."

In other NMCC coaching news, Matt Hartman will become an assistant high school football coach next season, Brad Kolwyck is the new the assistant high school volleyball coach and Donnie Brown takes over as the freshman basketball coach.