Poplar Bluff hires football coach

UPDATE: The Poplar Bluff school board approved the hiring at its meeting Thursday.

Mark Barousse appears to be headed back to Poplar Bluff to coach the Mules.

Poplar Bluff Athletic Director Jim Brown said Tuesday that a seven-member hiring committee will recommend to hire Barousse as the next football coach when the school board meets Jan. 20.

Barousse coached the Mules from 1997-2001 and ranks fifth all-time at the school in wins.

"I just want to thank the committee for the hours they spent," said R-I Superintendent Chris Hon. "It's an important position to our community.

"We're excited about having Coach Barousse return to Poplar Bluff."

If approved by the school board, Barousse will become the 20th head football coach at Poplar Bluff, and third to have multiple tenures along with Dutch Wyatt and George Godwin.

The Mules last won a district title in 2000 under Barousse, who was 34-18.

Barousse was one of five people to interview for the job, Hon said. Nearly 30 candidates applied for the opening when Shane Kearbey resigned Nov. 4 after three seasons.

Dave Sievers, who finished this season as interim head coach, also interviewed for the job along with four people with head coaching experience, Hon said.

The hiring committee consisted of Brown, Scot Young, high school principal, Amy Jackson, the associate superintendent of personnel, board member Dr. Mike Price and three members from the community, Keith Huffman, Mike Persons and Allen Brooks.

Barousse left Poplar Bluff after the 2001 season to return to his native Louisiana. He coached at Lafayette the past eight seasons, leading the Lions to the playoffs four times and a 40-54 record.

Barousse coached the Mules to two district titles and winning records in four of his five seasons. Poplar Bluff was 11-4 in district play during that span but has since gone 10-17, making the 2009 playoffs as the district runner-up.

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