EVANSVILLE — Is it too early to look ahead to high school basketball season?
Of course not, because this is Indiana. Work for the 2026-27 season begins quicker than many realize with the summer, particularly the month of June, acting as an important building block. There are also several coaching changes to track across Southwestern Indiana.
Here is a list of each boys or girls basketball coach openings in the Courier & Press coverage area. We will update the list should any changes or omissions occur, plus when these positions are filled in the next two months.
Harrison girls basketball
Outgoing: Andre Thomas was the interim coach during the past season. The Warriors went 9-14 and lost in the Class 4A sectional semifinal. He was recently moved from his athletic director position at Harrison into another “within the EVSC supporting student attendance.”
New: Hya Haywood was approved during the May 5 board meeting. She was an All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference guard at Central before completing her senior season at Monteverde Academy (Fla.). Haywood spent her college career with Western Kentucky, Three Rivers College, Lincoln University and two years at Glenville State College.
She earned an associate degree in arts from Three Rivers and a degree in business administration from Glenville before starting her coaching career at North Junior High. Haywood was most recently a graduate assistant at Columbus State University.
Memorial girls basketball
Outgoing: Mallory Ladd stepped down on April 23 after two seasons at her alma mater. Ladd finished with a 13-31 record and reached the sectional championship game both years. The Tigers went 5-19 this past winter with a young roster that dealt with numerous injuries.
“This was not an easy decision,” Ladd said. “But after taking time to reflect, I felt it was the right step at this time both personally and professionally. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to lead the program and be part of the Memorial community.”
Mount Vernon boys basketball
Outgoing: Doug Novsek stepped down in April after one season to pursue “an opportunity outside of coaching that I have desired to do for quite some time.” He went 13-11 this past winter with the Wildcats.
New: Robin Duncan was immediately tabbed as the next coach after spending one year as the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant. The Harrison graduate played collegiately at Vermont, helping the Catamounts reach the NCAA Tournament three times in five years, before playing professionally overseas.
North girls basketball
Outgoing: Tyler Choate stepped down in February after 10 seasons. He cited the time performing dual roles as coach and athletic director, a position he will keep moving forward, as a factor. Choate won 158 games (the most in program history) and two sectional championships.
North finished 9-14 last season but only graduates two players.
“I take pride in leaving things better than I found it,” Choate said. “Annette (Combs, the previous coach at North) did the same thing. It’s been a slowly built process to make North girls basketball recognized, maybe across the state. The program has good branding. It’s in good hands.”
New: Brad Elliott was named the next coach at the April 20 board meeting. Elliott was an assistant the past four years, including time as the junior varsity coach.
North Daviess boys basketball
Outgoing: Brent Dalrymple announced his retirement following a 26-year run with the Cougars. He accumulated 383 victories, seven sectionals, four regionals and one state championship. North Daviess defeated Lafayette Central Catholic in double overtime to win the Class 1A title in 2022.
North Daviess went 15-7 this past season and graduates its top three scorers.
“We accomplished many things most people never thought possible,” Dalrymple said in a statement. “All those years in between and after will always be memories I carry with me and moments. I’m proud to have shared as part of this community’s story.”
New: Dusty Cole was approved to be the next coach at the NDCSC board meeting on April 10. Cole was 244-94 in 14 seasons at Paoli with four sectional championships. The Rams were 26-1 this past season and lost in the Class 2A regional.
North Knox girls basketball
Outgoing: Steve Meurer announced his retirement following an impressive 30-year career. The North Daviess graduate coached at his alma mater for eight seasons (winning two sectionals) and later had a four-year run at Dugger Union – he was also on the boys staff during the Bulldogs’ run to the Class 1A state championship game in 2000.
Most of Meurer’s success came at North Knox where he was 310-144 in 18 seasons. Among his accolades included eight sectional and two regional titles. The 2023 team got within one victory of a spot at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. North Knox, who graduates four starters, was 19-7 this past season before losing to Eastern (Pekin) in the Class 2A semi-state. Meurer finished with a career record of 455-239.
“The memories I have from the last 18 years will last a lifetime,” he said in a social media post. “I have shed a few tears, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”
New: Jessi Parker was approved as the next coach during the May 18 meeting. The 2002 graduate was an assistant coach for Meurer and played at the University of Evansville.
North Posey girls basketball
Outgoing: Kevin Kolb stepped down after two years with the Vikings. He went 33-19 and won the Class 2A sectional championship in 2025.
North Posey went 14-12 this past season and lost in the sectional championship. The top five scorers graduate.
New: Thomas Planalp was approved to be the next coach at the April 13 school board meeting. The Indiana Wesleyan graduate has previous experience as a boys varsity assistant at Pioneer, an assistant with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and most recently a middle school/freshman coach with West Vigo.
Pike Central boys basketball
Outgoing: Kevin Herdes stepped down after two seasons in Petersburg. The Chargers went 5-43 the past two years with four victories last winter.
New: Michael Hopkins was announced as the next coach on May 15. He has a 35-68 record across five seasons in boys basketball with stops at Loogootee, White River Valley and Shoals. Hopkins was 38-78 in five seasons at Washington Catholic and Barr-Reeve on the girls’ side.
South Spencer boys basketball
Outgoing: Aaron Thompson stepped down in March following a three-year run. He was 23-49 at South Spencer and never advanced beyond the opening game of the sectional. Thompson was previously 26-37 in three years at Evansville Christian before joining the staff at Princeton.
He told the Courier & Press it was “100% a decision to support my family” with multiple kids graduating next year. The Rebels were 9-15 this past season with five of the top six scorers graduating.
New: Kyle Magill was named the next coach at the May 11 board meeting. The 2003 graduate remains fourth in program history with 1,609 career points. Magill spent the past 12 years in Owensboro, starting with the middle school program, before moving up as a varsity assistant for four seasons.
Vincennes Lincoln boys basketball
Outgoing: Dave Mahurin announced his retirement following 34 seasons between Vincennes Lincoln, Adams Central, South Vermillion, Rockville and Edgewood. He finished with a 401-346 career record with at least six sectionals, two regionals and one semi-state title.
Mahurin told the Vincennes Sun-Commercial the decision was in part due to health. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) last summer and needs both hips replaced. The Alices went 42-58 during his four seasons, including their first winning record in seven years during the 2024-25 campaign.
Vincennes Lincoln was 11-14 this past season and graduates three seniors.
New: Rob Flanagan was named the next coach on April 22. The Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame inductee accumulated 598 career victories over a 30-plus year career in Illinois. Most of his success came at Richland County where Flanagan won 477 games (finished third in the 2008 IHSA state tournament) in 27 seasons.
Vincennes Lincoln girls basketball
Outgoing: Tim Young stepped down in the middle of May, confirmed by Lincoln athletic director Chris Lancaster. Young was 70-70 across six years with the Alices with three winning seasons, including a sectional championship in 2022. He previously had considerable success at Vincennes Rivet with 223 wins and five state championship appearances (winning in 2011) in 10 years.
Washington boys basketball
Outgoing: Brandt Schuckman chose not to seek the full-time position after finishing this past season as the interim head coach. The Hatchets won seven of their final 10 games following Bo Burkhart’s midseason departure in January due to “personal reasons.” Schuckman plans to continue in his role as a volunteer assistant.
Washington finished 12-12 and graduates three of its top four scorers.
“We are grateful for Coach Schuckman’s leadership and his loyalty to Washington basketball and our players,” Washington athletic director Larry Cochren said in a press release. “We respect the fact that due to his business obligations and family obligations he does not feel he can balance that and give the head coaching responsibilities the full attention that the boys deserve. We are indebted and grateful for Coach Schuckman and his family. They will and always will be a very important part of Hatchet basketball and athletics.”
New: Alex Boyd was named the next coach at the April 16 board meeting. The 2021 Washington graduate was a two-sport athlete for the Hatchets. Spent three years coaching the Junior High program and this past year as a varsity assistant.
Wood Memorial boys basketball
Outgoing: Brian Schoonover stepped down after five seasons at his alma mater. The Trojans went 62-62 during that span but finished with three straight winning records. Schoonover, who previously coached two years at Boonville, cited family as the reason with children Houston and Bailey graduating this spring.
Wood Memorial was 18-8 this past year and lost in the sectional championship.
“It’s been an honor to be the head coach at my alma mater,” Schoonover posted to social media. “Proud of the players that helped build the foundation as we struggled the first couple years, but it allowed us to go 51-27 the last 3 seasons. Proud of all our kids and coaches. Trojan forever! Go Wood!”
New: Bart Bigham was announced as the new coach on April 19. The 1996 Wood Memorial graduate was an assistant coach for several years and also currently the boys varsity tennis coach. Bigham is one of 11 in program history to score 1,000 career points.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Which Southwestern Indiana high schools have basketball coach openings?
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland and Markos Tsegaye, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
