Nixa girls basketball coach Jennifer Perryman is stepping away from coaching
Nixa head girls' basketball coach Jennifer Perryman told the News-Leader on Wednesday evening that she informed her team that she is leaving the Lady Eagles basketball program.
Perryman said she made the decision to put her family first as her 14-year-old son enters his first year of high school as she also pursues another career opportunity. Perryman said she will be staying in southwest Missouri.
"Nixa was so supportive of me," Perryman said. "It's been unbelievable to me. It was my decision and I've been searching and thinking and praying about what to do. God's timing is always perfect even when ours isn't. I felt like this was the right time."
Perryman has been on Nixa's sideline since 2013. The Lady Eagles have won 21 or more games over the last three seasons with one district championship.
Perryman informed Nixa Athletics Director Brandon Clark of her decision on Wednesday afternoon.
Clark told the News-Leader that the job will be posted on Thursday and will be open to all candidates.
Perryman was the first hire Clark made when he took over Nixa 10 years ago. Perryman coached Clark's daughter, Norah Clark, over the last few seasons.
"Jenny's brought a great culture into the program and has brought it into the forefront of southwest Missouri basketball," Clark said. "I'm a little bit bummed because I have another daughter coming in as a freshman that would have played for her too."
Perryman's departure comes nearly two weeks after former state-championship-winning coach Jim Pendergrass departed Kickapoo to become Nixa's head freshman girls' coach. Both Perryman and Clark said the timing of Perryman's departure and Pendergrass' hiring are coincidental.
Clark said that he had yet to have a conversation with Pendergrass about the opening and would anticipate him applying. Kickapoo has yet to fill its vacant spot, leaving two of southwest Missouri's premiere Class 6 programs without head coaches.
"The two are unrelated," Clark said. "Our plan is to open it up. There was no foresight into that. I think it was more of a personal move for Jim, more than anything. It's just sort of a weird coincidence that this all tied up. This was a bit of a shocker that I wasn't expecting."
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or Twitter at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Jennifer Perryman: Nixa girls basketball head coach stepping away
