by Steve Dunford
HERRIN, IL – The voice of the Herrin Tigers, Mike Murphy, broke this late last night. The Herrin School Board named Benton native Sayler Shurtz as their head basketball coach last night.
Shurtz, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach to Jacob Emling at Elverado. In those two years, the fortunes turned at Elkville, going from an 0-25 season two years ago, to a 21-7 season, sharing a South Egyptian Conference title with Meridian and Cobden.
Shurtz also comes from a pedigree of coaches in his family. His father Rod, was head coach of the Benton Ranger team that finished third in Class A in 1992. That team was led by Jo Jo Johnson. His brother Seger has led the Christopher Lady Bearcats to back to back regional titles.
Shurtz replaces Herrin AD, Mike Mooneyham, who came back for a one year second tour of duty after Irv Lukens resigned. Mooneyham still remains as Athletic Director.
I look forward to talking with Coach Shurtz in this upcoming basketball season. Coach Mooneyham was always accessible, and that means more than you know in preparing to write about a game.
In some other SIRR-Ohio news, the West Frankfort school board has hired Jory Dial to replace recently retired Richard Glodich as athletic director. Dial has served as a long time assistant to football coach Brian Beery and served as an assistant to Matt Hampleman last year in girls basketball.
He was also an assistant in boys basketball to Kevin Toney and Dan DeWerff. I will try to get with Coach Dial soon.
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