Todd Cook will remember his time at Clinton-Massie because of one of his great rivals turned friend.
Cook, who took over as Clinton-Massie boys basketball varsity head coach following Dustin Eads who was Massie head coach for two seasons, will not return to Lebanon Road this winter. He was told several weeks ago he was being recommended for non-renewal by CM athletic director Cindy Running.
“After serving for four years, Todd Cook will not be returning,” Running said in a statement to the News Journal. “We wish him well.”
Cook said he had planned to return to Massie for this fifth season.
A search is now on for Cook’s replacement.
“We are searching for a candidate who is interested in long-term sustainable growth for our program,” said Running.
Cook was 46-49 in four seasons at Clinton-Massie, but that record is marred by last season’s 2-21 record.
The Falcons were 11-13 in Cook’s first season in 2016-17. They also notched a Division II tournament win. In 2017-18, Massie had another tournament win and finished 15-9.
In 2018-19, Cook and the Falcons won the SBAAC American Division championship, the first in boys varsity basketball since winning the South Central Ohio League in 2012-13. Massie defeated Wilmington for what is believed to be the first time since 2002 en route to an 18-6 record. Cook, who earned the 100th win of his varsity coaching coach, was SBAAC American Division coach of the year.
While the 2019-20 season was not what those in the program expected from a record standpoint, Cook said it will be a memorable one. With the passing of Brian Mudd, the longest tenured boys varsity basketball head coach in CMHS history, the basketball court was named in his honor — Brian P. Mudd Court.
“I had the privilege to help name the court in honor of coach Brian Mudd,” Cook said. “And in our conversations throughout the years I had mentioned how much respect I had for coach Mudd when I coached against him while at Waynesville and the friendship we started through coaching as well as his administration (Andy Copeland, Ron Rudduck, and Keith Mattison). Coach Mudd was a great person, teacher, coach, and was a great example of the ultimate fighter.
