By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Jesse Wall is the new athletic director at Carl Junction High School.
Wall, of course, isn’t a new face with the Bulldogs. This coming season will be his fourth at the Big 8 Conference school. Plus, the position of athletic director isn’t new for Wall.
Wall will continue as offensive coordinator for head football coach Bret Gosch in the fall.
“Things are going very well,” Wall said Saturday. “I’m sure it will continue.
“I enjoy the duties of an athletic director. I still love coaching,” Wall said. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to do both.
“Coach Gosch still wanted me to coach,” Wall said. “We’ll see what happens after the coming season.”
Wall, also assistant principal, replaces the retiring Mike Larson, whose contract expired on June 30.
Wall was around Larson in his final days.
“I tried to do anything he wanted me to do,” Wall said.
Wall, who had the duties of head football coach and athletic director at Midwest City (Okla.) High School for a year before returning to Southwest Missouri with the Bulldogs, complimented Larson.
“He was extremely organized and did a very good job throughout the years,” Wall said.
“He cares a great deal about the Carl Junction athletic programs regardless of the sport or level,” Wall said.
“It’s a great thing, too, that Mike already has taken care of the budget and most of the scheduling for next year,” Wall said.
Wall, 42, is a product of Midwest City and Pittsburg State. He began coaching as a graduate assistant at PSU (a year for both Dennis Franchione and Chuck Broyles).
Wall, incidentally, was an All-American guard at PSU. The Gorillas lost in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs the last three years of his college career.
“I believe we lost twice to Cameron (Okla.) and once to Adams State (Colo.) in those years. We may have set records for turnovers,” Wall said with a laugh.
His prep coaching career in football began with six years as an assistant at Webb City. He was a head coach at Carthage for two and Joplin for seven before the stint at Midwest City.
His wife, Sarah, is volleyball coach at Carl Junction High School. They have three children — Jacob, Bradyn and Zeke.
Jacob worked into the varsity football starting lineup at center last season as a freshman. Daughter Bradyn and son Zeke will be in the seventh and fourth grade, respectively, and emulate their older brother by competing in more than one sport.
Sports
Wall takes Bulldogs’ athletic director post
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