McLemore takes AD job at MHS

By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Aug. 7, 2002
Vince McLemore reached one of his professional dreams on Tuesday morning when he was named the interim athletic director for Meridian High School.
"This is something I've been working toward for a long time," McLemore said moments after being officially announced as the new AD by MHS principal James Bounds. "I still enjoy coaching, but this is something that I've always wanted to do."
McLemore will be entering his fourth year as head baseball coach at MHS, but said his athletic background is well-rounded.
"I played baseball and football in high school (Ripley) and also played both in junior college (Northeast CC and Itawamba CC)," McLemore said. "I enjoy all sports and look forward to working with all of the coaches."
Bounds and Dr. Janet McLin, superintendent of Meridian Public Schools, said that McLemore would serve as interim athletic director this year while the district evaluated what it wanted to do with the position.
Since 1997 the position has not been held by a head coach, with the last two athletic directors being Billy Burnham who recently stepped down to take a principal's job at Clarkdale High School and longtime MHS coach Mac Barnes.
"It's a fulltime job," Bounds said. "We just appreciate Vince taking on this responsibility for us. We looked at several candidates and it was good to have such a quality applicant inside the school system."
McLemore said just because he was becoming the athletic director, that his baseball team shouldn't suffer.
"I've still got that fire to coach inside of me," he said. "We are going to keep growing the baseball program just like we have been."
McLemore will give up his teaching duties to focus on his coaching and athletic director responsibilities.