McDermott to coach East Newton girls

awelch@joplinglobe.com Rusty McDermott will be back prowling the sidelines as a basketball coach in 2008-09. McDermott, director of facilities for the Granby East Newton School District, has been given the additional duties of girls basketball coach at East Newton High School. Jamey Gilion, who remained at East Newton to assist boys coach Todd Dana, stepped down as girls coach after last season in hopes of getting more opportunities to watch daughter Ashley, a freshman, play basketball at Neosho High School. But Gilion’s replacement as girls coach recently resigned for personal reasons. “I’m excited,” McDermott said on Monday. “I’ve been itching to get back into coaching. It’s been difficult to get coaching out of my system.” Dana, also athletic director, said David Prather will continue as the girls’ basketball assistant.... [read full story]