An internal hire at the Cassville school district last week will bring a familiar face back to high school athletics.

Doug Martin, hired as athletic director in 2015, is retiring and will be replaced by former Cassville football coach Lance Parnell.

“This is something I always wanted to do as I got later in my career,” Parnell said. “I didn’t think it would happen this year, and I honestly wish Doug had stayed around a little longer because he has been a good mentor to me at the middle school AD position.”

After his resignation as football coach, Parnell has served as the middle school athletic director and a teacher at the Success Academy. He said a big reason for taking the job was to be more involved in athletics again.

“I got into this profession to teach and coach,” he said. “I love to be around the kids and love what athletics can do to teach, mold and mentor students. A piece of this is to help kids as they grow and teach life skills.”

He began his teaching career at Eunice Thomas Elementary in 1998 as the physical education teacher. After teaching in the primary, he transitioned to the high school, where he eventually led the weight-lifting program. Parnell has coached for 27 years, all but two at Cassville, joining Wildcat Nation in 1998 to teach physical education and to coach quarterbacks and defensive backs. In 2002, he was named defensive coordinator, and he was the head from 2013-2021. He also served as the Head Golf Coach from 2001-2014.

“I have a lot of experience coaching a lot of different sports, but this is a new role,” he said. “There will be a huge learning curve, but being involved so long may help that transition process. I also have lots of good people around me, and when I need an answer to something, I can make a phone call and get someone with more experience to help me out.”

Parnell said another goal of his is to be as much a mentor to coaches as he was to students.

“I’m excited for this job because, as a coach, I would mentor, teach and develop young kids,” he said. “Now, I see so many young coaches coming in. I want to be as involved with the kids where I can help, and I want to be a mentor to young coaches when they need help with something or just need to vent.”

Parnell said looking ahead, he does not have any plans for changing things.

“We’ve had such great leadership during past tenures that I just want to do as good a job as those before me,” he said.

Merlyn Johnson, Cassville superintendent, said the district is excited to welcome the longtime Wildcat to the administrative team. “After a successful coaching and teaching career, we know he is a great fit to lead our athletics and activities programs,” he said. “Over the years, Coach Parnell has done an exemplary job building positive relationships with staff, students and families, and we are excited for him to lead all of our district athletic and activity programs.”

Parnell, and his wife Suzy, live in Cassville and have three daughters and one grandson.

Wildcat Nation will not soon forget Martin’s impact over the last eight years. In his first year, the Wildcats added boys wrestling, and since then, girls wrestling, girls’ soccer and girls’ golf have all become varsity sports.

“When we started wrestling, it was co-ed,” he said. “Now, it’s evolved to a full girls’ team. I am proud to start new activities in Cassville, and they’ve been a good fit. Every one of those programs has seen success.”

Martin said that success has not only been seen on the mat, pitch and course, but also academically.

“We’ve had girls from all those new sports get scholarships, maybe even more than Cassville has had in a long time,” he said. “Allowing students to continue their educations is a great thing.”

To Parnell, Martin said being the athletic director requires one thing up front — for Parnell to be himself.

“The big thing is to be yourself, and Lance will do a good job at that,” Martin said. “He has a level head on his shoulders listening to parents and coaches. I always tried to help the coaches be successful and to develop students and coaches. I want to help the individual who is helping the kid find success.”

Both from football and track backgrounds, Martin said Parnell’s administration should be similar to his.

“We’ve continued to make improvements to the facilities, and Lance will now get to have a part of that,” he said. “Also, some of the best coaches are not teachers, and I have been willing to bring in the best coaches.”

Martin said another shared quality is one that will serve Parnell well.

“You have to enjoy watching sports — the track meets, the baseball games, the soccer games — because if you don’t, this job is not for you.”

Martin said his retirement plans mainly include traveling with his wife, who retired two years ago after 30 years in her field. Initially, they will go to Washington state to visit their son, then over the summer on a tour of Europe. After that, Martin said he is looking to work in northwest Arkansas.

“I’m proud to be retired from Missouri as a Wildcat,” he said.

“The big thing is to be yourself, and Lance will do a good job at that. He has a level head on his shoulders listening to parents and coaches. I always tried to help the coaches be successful and to develop students and coaches.

I want to help the individual who is helping the kid find success…We’ve continued to make improvements to the facilities, and Lance will not get to have a part of that. Also, some of the best coaches are not teachers, and I have been willing to bring in the best coaches”