Eagleville hires Davy McClaran as boys basketball coach

Things have come full circle for Davy McClaran.

The former Eagleville basketball standout has spent the past seven years as the principal at Forrest High School.

On Monday he was named the next boys basketball coach at his alma mater.

"My grandmother taught (at Eagleville) for 30 years, so I'm very familiar with the history of the (basketball) program, from (coaches) Joe Shelton, Gary Johnson, David Sheppard, Coach (Bill) Tollett, all the way to Joey Reed," said McClaran, a 1990 Eagleville graduate.

"They have a rich basketball tradition."

McClaran will finish the school year as Forrest's principal before turning his attention to Eagleville.

He will replace Reed, who stepped down after the 2017-18 season.

More:Joey Reed steps down after 15 years as Eagleville boys basketball coach

McClaran spent 15 years as boys basketball coach at Forrest before moving to administration in 2011. He said his love for coaching is what prompted the move to go back to teaching.

"It's been my passion ... in my blood," McClaran said. That's why I got into teaching. It's a different form of leadership, a different way of guiding and teaching kids how to transition into being responsible, mature adults."

The choice was an easy one for Eagleville Principal Bill Tollett.

"He’s obviously experienced," Tollett said. "Our program has been successful over (a) number of years and we wanted to maintain that level of success. It was important to get somebody with experience.

"He’s from here and played here. He understands the Eagleville way. Many times it's important that a coach is a proper fit for a place. This was a no-brainer. He’ll be a perfect fit here.”

Eagleville won't just be getting a head coach in McClaran, but also one of the top returning players in the area in his son, Ryley.

Ryley McClaran, a guard, is just 30 points away from 1,000 for his career as he enters his junior season next year. He had a game earlier this season in which he scored 51 for Forrest.

"It's a good group (coming back for Eagleville)," said Davy McClaran, who will also have post player Ethan Cobb (15 points, 11 rebounds a game in 2017-18) back.

"(Ryley) is going to add to an already very talented athletic group of returning starters and role players. Hopefully his addition will help us accomplish some goals that we’re going to have early on, hopefully late into the season."

Reed stepped down after 15 seasons and 235 wins at Eagleville. His squad lost a controversial Region 4-A quarterfinals contest to LEAD Academy to end its season at 17-12.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.