By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
Feb. 6, 2001
There are a couple of changes on the horizon at Clarkdale Attendance Center as far as athletic coaching positions are concerned.
According to Clarkdale Principal Jan Miller, applications are now being accepted for head football coach, as well as head boys basketball coach.
Roland Gatlin, head football coach at the school during the 2000 season, will step down from that position to devote more time to the Bulldog head baseball coaching duties.
Head boys basketball coach Ronny Roberts told The Meridian Star he is retiring at the end of the school year, and will seek work outside the Mississippi Public School system, perhaps in Alabama.
Roberts, who has put in 25 years in the state's retirement system, will coach his final home game Friday against Quitman.
Miller, who described the moves as a mutual decision by both the coaches and the administration, described the ongoing search and selection process as one that is moving along quite smoothly.
The gridiron Bulldogs competed as an independent for the past two years, but in 2000, CHS will be competing in the same division as such teams as Kemper County and Newton.
Gatlin said taking the football job was viewed as a temporary move when he began last summer.
Miller said the school hopes to have the positions filled by early March.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.