Search for next Bluff football narrows

Poplar Bluff's next football coach will most likely be hired Thursday night at the regularly scheduled board meeting but it won't be Arlen Pixley.

The New Madrid County Central football coach withdrew his name from consideration Monday, said Poplar Bluff AD Bill Caputo.

"At this time in his career New Madrid is where he felt he and his family needed to be," Caputo said. "I understand his position and appreciate his consideration. He has a fine program."

The Eagles finished 9-2 this fall, losing in the Class 3 quarterfinal to MICDS, 28-27.

New Madrid has won the last two District 1 titles and is 23-9 under Pixley over the last three years. The Eagles other loss was at Poplar Bluff, 32-12.

New Madrid will play Poplar Bluff in Week 1 for the next two seasons.

Poplar Bluff officials interviewed four coaches between Thursday and Monday for the job held for the past two years by Brian Robbins, who will take over at Hillsboro in the fall.

Current assistant coaches Shane Kearbey and David Sievers have applied for the job while former head coach Mark Barousse was seen taking a tour of the football facilities Monday. Barousse was 38-24 in six seasons at Poplar Bluff ending in 2001 when he left to take a job in his home state of Louisiana.

Kearbey, a former Mules quarterback, has been an assistant coach at Poplar Bluff for the last 10 years, while Sievers, who attended Jackson High School, has been here for the last 20 seasons.