Cape Central High School is pleased to announce the appointment of Rich Payne as the Head Coach of the Cape Central Tiger Football Team. Coach Payne has been a classroom teacher, an assistant high school principal, an assistant director, and a director of the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center for a total of eighteen years of service and leadership in the School District of Cape Girardeau. During those eighteen years, Coach Payne served as an assistant football coach at Cape Central for ten years before moving into full-time school leadership. From 2001-2008, Coach Payne officiated high school basketball, and from 2004-2007, Coach Payne officiated high school football and was selected in 2007 to officiate Missouri State 5A Quarterfinal Football. Coach Payne was graduated from Southeast Missouri Statue University in 1984 with a B.S. Degree in Physical Education with a minor in history. In 1985, Coach Payne was graduated from Western Illinois University with a M.S. Degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Administration. In 1995, Coach Payne received his certification in school administration from Southeast, and in 2001, Coach Payne received his Specialist Degree in Secondary School Administration from Southeast. During his undergraduate years, Coach Payne served as a graduate assistant and football coach at Western Illinois University and then served as an assistant football coach, recruiting coordinator, and educational advisor for Redhawk Football at Southeast Missouri State. With Coach Payne having served as an assistant coach as well as having been a long-term advocate of football at Cape Central, we are confident he has the familiarity with the history of our program and a vision for the future that will enable him to continue the long and proud tradition of Cape Central Football. Coach Payne will begin his duties as head coach immediately.