The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

High School Sports

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June 6, 2012

Carl Junction hires Tiffany Dirks as girls basketball coach

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

Tiffany Dirks said Tuesday it was tough to leave Pierce City High School after a three-year stint with the Eagles.

Dirks, the new head girls basketball coach at Carl Junction, guided Pierce City to records of 20-6 overall and 9-0 in the Spring River Valley Conference in 2011-12.

Pierce City lost 46-45 to eventual Class 3 champion Mount Vernon on its floor in the semifinals of the District 12 Tournament.

“They’re great kids,” Dirks said of the Eagles. “They’re fun to be around. They were easy to coach.

“It broke my heart to say goodbye,” Dirks said. “But you do what’s best for your family.”

Dirks, who was head coach at Pierce City for one season, is finding a similar atmosphere at Class 4 Carl Junction.

“There’s a lot of talent and a lot of willingness to improve at Carl Junction,” Dirks said. “They seem to have the great attitude and an equally strong work ethic.

“There’s support for the players and coaches by the administration,” Dirks said. “It makes it fun to coach. You want to coach.”

Carl Junction athletic director Jesse Wall said Dirks was selected from some 12 applicants for the position left vacant by Jonathan Wengert stepping down after four years at the helm.

Dirks currently expects to have Mandy Lybeck and Chelsi Leggett, Wengert’s assistants, helping her in 2012-13.

Dirks, who said the Bulldogs have just begun four weeks of conditioning, will assist Sarah Wall in volleyball and teach physical education in the fall.

“This is a great opportunity,” Dirks said. “Hopefully, it will be a great fit.”

Dirks, formerly Mossman, graduated from Joplin College Heights Christian School in 1998. She was busy in sports at CHC — cross country and soccer as well as basketball, volleyball and track.

She began college at Evangel in Springfield eyeing a basketball career. But an ankle injury helped change those plans.

Dirks, whose mom Sheila lives in Rogers, Ark., transferred to Pittsburg State and wound up securing an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree and husband Josh (from Shawnee Mission North and a member of the football and track teams).

Tiffany started coaching with three years at Joplin Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. Josh and Tiffany then spent a year at a private school (Randolph) in Huntsville (Ala.) before returning to southwest Missouri. Josh was at Jasper before stepping down after last season.

“He’s looking and hoping,” Tiffany said of Josh’s job search.

The Dirks live in Webb City. They have three children — Ella, 6; Belle, 2, and Beau, 10 weeks.

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