By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Eric Johnson apparently isn’t ready for retirement.
Johnson, of course, did just that after the 2007-08 season and 24 years as boys basketball coach at Webb City High School.
Johnson is back, though, as a boys assistant at Carl Junction High School for first-year head coach Ryan Odaffer.
Johnson came after Odaffer, who’d served three years with Johnson at Webb City, called for assistance.
“Ryan called and asked,” Johnson said on Thursday. “I probably wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.”
Johnson, who also is substituting as a physical education teacher the first semester at Granby Middle School, indicated it wasn’t a difficult decision.
Odaffer needed help after his scheduled assistant, Jonathan Wengert, was named head girls coach of the Bulldogs with the resignation of coach Brad Neal.
“My wife (Mary Jane) was tired of me sitting. She wanted me out of the house,” Johnson said. “After surgery, I couldn’t play golf.”
Johnson said he had surgery on Sept. 8 to remove a cancerous prostate. The results of a checkup on Oct. 24 were “very good,” he said.
“It’s been enjoyable so far at Carl Junction,” Johnson said. “I thought Ryan and I had a good working relationship at Webb City.
“Practice began Monday and the players are working hard and showing respect,” Johnson said.
Said Odaffer: “He’s excited. I believe he already was kind of missing it (coaching). Definitely, he’ll be an asset. He has a lot of experience. I’m looking forward to having that experience on the bench. Remember, we already had worked together for three years.”
Odaffer said that Mark Robertson is the boys freshman coach and that Derek Lahm, slated to graduate from Missouri Southern, will help at both junior varsity and freshman levels next semester.
“Derek has been around the game forever and can relate to the kids,” Odaffer said.
Lahm, a Carl Junction product, played basketball for his dad, Chris, at Ozark Christian College.
An early assessment of the Bulldogs from Odaffer: “The kids are working hard. They’re listening, they’re learning and they’re improving. We’re inexperienced. But I believe we can compete.”
Odaffer also has been able to direct the Bulldogs at a couple of team camps and their team camp as well as a summer league at Webb City.
Johnson does have a complaint about Odaffer, though.
“He still has to get me a whistle and clipboard,” Johnson said.
Sports
November 14, 2008
Eric Johnson back on bench as assistant at Carl Junction
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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