Shane Kearbey, new Poplar Bluff football coach [Click to enlarge]

Shane Kearbey is ready.

The Poplar Bluff native and longtime Mules assistant coach will be recommended to take over the football when the School Board meets tonight program.

"I'm extremely excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity to lead this football program," Kearbey said Wednesday. "My goal going into education was to some day be the head coach of Poplar Bluff.

"It's kind of like a dream come true."

A three-year starting quarterback who helped lead the Mules to a perfect regular season in 1990 Kearbey has been an assistant coach for the past 10 years under the last three head coaches at Poplar Bluff.

The five-member hiring committee announced its recommendation Wednesday after a three-week search following the resignation of Brian Robbins, who took over in 2006.

Kearbey will be Poplar Bluff's third coach in seven years and is the first alumni of the school to come back and coach the team since Jim Lohr in 1960-68.

"He's very passionate about it," said Bill Caputo, Poplar Bluff's athletic director. "It's a lifelong goal that he's worked for, and he's done the things that's necessary to achieve that goal."

Kearbey will take over a team that can return seven defensive starters and 10 starters on offense from a team that finished 5-5.

Poplar Bluff's last winning season was 2003 and the Mules' last district title came in 2000.

"I feel very fortunate to get the job right now because I feel like we've got the athletes that are hungry to win championships and they have the work ethic to get the job done," Kearbey said. "I think my job is to make the transition from Coach Robbins to myself as smooth as possible and just prepare these kids to win some championships."

Kearbey has been the offensive coordinator under Robbins the past two years and was also the defensive coordinator under coach Mike Dormady. Kearbey was hired by Mark Barousse as an assistant, coaching defensive backs and quarterbacks.

Barousse who was 34-18 with two district titles in five years at Poplar Bluff was one of four people interviewed for the job. Along with Kearbey and Barousse, who left following the 2001 season to coach in his home state of Louisiana, New Madrid County Central coach Arlen Pixley and Mules assistant coach David Seivers were also interviewed.

"We're excited to have Shane," Caputo said. "It was a difficult decision because we had some good people interview for it.

"It's Shane's chance, it's his time."

The search committee included Caputo, Chris Hon, assistant superintendent, principal Scot Young, junior high principal Bob Case and assistant high school principal Mike Ivie.

Caputo said Kearbey's experience as coordinator on both offense and defense was a plus and that he had a solid game plan for his players.

Kearbey said he was ready to get a coaching staff together and get to work. He wasted no time meeting Wednesday with Seivers, who had resigned in November after 20 years as an assistant coach.

"I really need him and I'm really trying to sell him to come back and coach with me," Kearbey said. "He's a big asset to have."

As a player, Kearbey threw for a then-record 2,983 career passing yards and 27 touchdown passes from 1988-90. During his senior year, Poplar Bluff finished undefeated in the regular season and reached the state quarterfinals under coach Paul Webber.

A three-sport athlete in high school Kearbey went on to play baseball at Three Rivers Community College and Arkansas State University. He has a master's degree in education administration and teaches physical education at the high school.

Kearbey said some of his best memories and friendships came from his time from playing high school football.

"I want student-athlete at Poplar every Bluff High School to experience the success and community support that the 1990 team experienced," he added.

Kearbey and his wife Brandy have a 10-year-old Blakeney and a baby boy on the way, due in June.