Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for May 4, 2006 SAM WEAVER

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Former SIU coach takes over at Cairo

by scott mees, the southern

Former Southern Illinois University assistant men's basketball coach Sam Weaver accepted the Cairo boys basketball head coaching job Tuesday evening.

Weaver, best known as one of former SIU head coach Rich Herrin's top assistants and recruiters in the early 1990s, will take over the position and teach as well. Weaver, who has a master's degree in physical education, will have the financial terms of his contract finalized in the near future.

"Sam has a long history of coaching and teaching, and we're excited about it," said Superintendent Gary Whitledge. "We think it's an outstanding opportunity for us."

Besides serving as head coach at Alcorn State and Northern Iowa, Weaver has also worked as an assistant coach at Mississippi State and Iowa State.

"He has references as an outstanding teacher," Whitledge said. "Sam will bring us in a new direction. It's hard to find anyone that has a bad thing to say about him."

Former Salukis Chris Carr and Marcus Timmons are just two of the talented athletes Weaver helped recruit to play basketball at SIU.

Weaver - who's been coaching basketball in some aspect for nearly 25 years - replaces former head coach Larry Baldwin for the 2006-07 basketball season.

He began his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State.