Family considerations were the No. 1 reason why Doug Hepler stepped down as girls basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School after five years at the helm.
Mount Vernon stayed within its system in quickly naming Jamie LaSalle as Hepler’s successor.
Hepler, reared in New York, will be working out of Boston for Herman Miller and will be working with brother Gregg. Their parents and another brother, Rick, live near Rochester (N.Y.).
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Hepler said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “I just needed to take this opportunity to get closer to family. I don’t want any regrets at the end.
“I love teaching and coaching,” Hepler, a graduate of Evangel University, said. “I’m leaving those options open.
“I wouldn’t have jumped for anything,” Hepler said. “But Herman Miller is a great opportunity. It’s worldwide with headquarters in Zeeland, Mich. It’s dedicated to making office a better place to be.”
Hepler said their job will be some six hours away from Rick and their parents.
“Those five years (two Class 3 titles in the last three seasons and an overall record of 119-27) always will be great years,” Hepler said. “Again, it was a tough decision, and it didn’t happen until mid-July.”
The name LaSalle in southwest Missouri suggests football. But LaSalle, who turns 42 on Monday, brings a resume that includes two years as girls basketball coach at Greenfield and four as the Wildcats’ boys basketball coach.
LaSalle’s experience as a football coach began as an assistant at Miller — working for dad Jim — while in college. This will be his third year at Mount Vernon after four years at Sarcoxie, three at Fair Grove and seven at Greenfield as a head football coach.
LaSalle, in 2012-13, also will serve as the head junior high football coach and assist in baseball in addition to teaching freshman world history.
“I’m really excited,” LaSalle said. “Obviously, Coach Hepler had tremendous success. I’ll just do the best I can and try to make things exciting for the girls. We want to have fun but continue our tradition, We’ll work hard.”
A plus for the program, LaSalle said, will be assistant Michelle Rust, a former standout for the Mountaineers.
“Coach Hepler mentioned he wanted us to continue the tradition,” LaSalle said. “We’ll do our best.”
Mount Vernon graduated two all-state players in Amelia Bramer (who’s attending Harding of Searcy, Ark., for basketball) and Danielle Goodman (volleyball at Allen County of Iola, Kan.).
Mainstays Sally Cowherd, Madison Hadlock and Jenna Kleine also graduated, LaSalle said.
Four veterans are scheduled to return with two starters in senior Tamiaya Henderdson and sophomore MacKenzie Farmer. Audrey LaSalle, a senior and the coach’s daughter, and junior Blair Tettenhorst complete the veterans.
LaSalle, a 1988 graduate of Miller, received his undergraduate degree from Missouri Southern. He and his wife, Tanya, formerly Hill from Miller, have two more children in seventh-grader Tori and freshman Jacob.
Sports
August 1, 2012
Hepler ends successful run as Mount Vernon girls basketball coach
- High School Sports
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Lamar sweeps discus, leads Class 2 meet after first day
From left to right, Austin Boice, Sam Bailey and Ben Bailey.
- CHC's Beaver wins 1600 state title
- Jacob Lott takes over Southeast football
- Short selected as McDonald County coach
- Carthage optimistic for sectional track
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- Missouri Southern Sports
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Lions eliminated at regional
MSSU shortstop Thomas Wilson tags Central Missouri's Barrett Noirfalise on Friday.
- 'No one deserved to lose' Southern opener against Mavs
- Lions squeezed in 14-inning loss to Minnesota State
- Lions open regional play against top-seeded Minnesota State
- Lions qualify 12 for track nationals
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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Gorillas stay alive with 3-1 win over UCO
Matt Hicks/Special to The Globe Pittsburg State shortstop Evan Thomas turns a double play during an MIAA postseason tournament game Thursday.
- 7 Lions, 8 Gorillas names all-MIAA
- Lions qualify 12 for track nationals
- Western rebounds to end Pitt State's season
- PSU baseball prepares for another backyard battle
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Lamar sweeps discus, leads Class 2 meet after first day
From left to right, Austin Boice, Sam Bailey and Ben Bailey.
Lamar placed 1-2-3 in the discus and led the team standings after the first day of the boys’ Class 2 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships at Dwight Reed Stadium.
Continued ... - CHC's Beaver wins 1600 state title
- Wilson, four others, inducted to Joplin Area Hall of Fame
- Lions eliminated at regional
- 'No one deserved to lose' Southern opener against Mavs
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