Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cossey Steps Down As PHS Girls Coach

Prescott Wolverette basketball Coach Bill Cossey has resigned his position with the team.

However, according to Ron Wright, Prescott School District Superintendent, Cossey will be retained in other capacities, and the post of girls basketball coach will be advertised.

Wright said Cossey has talked about being a substitute teacher or bus driver.

"We're not closing the door on him," Wright said, "he's done a good job for us."

And what a job he's done. In the three years he's led the Wolverettes, the team has been one of the most dominant on the hardwood in the state.

His squads have amassed an impressive 84-16 record during this time and have made trips to the state tournament all three years.

The Wolverettes, under his tutelage, have also been ranked in the top 10 three years in a row.

In the 1997-98 season, the Wolverettes posted a 26-7 record. They won the Southwest Arkansas Invitational Tournament at Saratoga, the Mena Classic, captured the district tourney, ended the regular season as conference champs with an 11-1 record (the only loss at De Queen), won the regional tourney and made it to the quarterfinals in the state tilt.

The Wolverettes ended the year ranked 8th in the state.

The 1998-99 campaign was even better as the Wolverettes went 30-4 on the year.

Cossey's crew again won the SWAR Invitational, came home as champs from the Nashville Classic, were 7AAA co-champs with a 12-2 record, won the district tourney, the south regional tournament and were runner-up in the state finals.

This group was ranked second statewide.

Last season the girls posted a 28-5 record. They captured the Lakeside Classic tourney, were runner-up in the Nashville Classic, were again the 7AAA conference champs, with a 13-1 record, were runners up in the district tourney, won the regional tourney and made it to the state tilt.

The girls ended this campaign rated 10th in the state.

The Wolverettes, under Cossey, had All-Conference, All-Regional, All-State, All-SWAR, All-Area and All-Star players named annually.

Three members of the Wolverettes earned full basketball scholarships at four-year colleges.