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Durant Desperately Seeking Volleyball Coach

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

PLANT CITY - There are only a few coaching positions left unfilled at Durant High as the school year approaches. Volleyball was not supposed to be one of them.

But Durant is back in the market for a coach in that sport after Justeen Patton left for a job in Texas.

"We want the word out, we are actively looking for a new volleyball coach," Durant Athletic Director Christina Raburn said.

Patton was to take over for Dawn Hough, who last season led the Cougars to the state finals before moving to Fort Lauderdale with her new husband.

But Patton was recently offered a job at Belton High School in Texas, where she has family.

Raburn found out about the opening on July Fourth.

"She did a volleyball camp for us, everything went well, but this opportunity came up for her," Raburn said. Patton did inform her campers, most of them Durant players, of her decision at that time.

According to Raburn, the Belton High job offered Patton a significant increase in salary.

Before transferring to Tampa Preparatory School, where she helped lead the Terrapins to two state championships, Patton played as a freshman at Durant. She also played at the University of Iowa.

The other coaching openings at Durant are for both boys and girls tennis and boys golf.

But what makes the volleyball opening different - and more pressing for Durant to try and fill - is that there is a teaching job tied to it, Raburn said

"We're not just on the lookout for a coach, this is a P.E. teaching job as well," she said.

Raburn said ideally she would like to fill the position by Aug. 4, one week before volleyball practice can begin.
Patton couldn't be reached for comment.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@ tampatrib.com.

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