[02/15/01] Warren Central basketball coach John Duett resigned Wednesday morning, one day after the Vikings’ season ended in the first round of the Division 3-5A tournament.

The decision was made months ago, he said.

Being away from his wife and 7-year-old daughter three to five nights a week during basketball season was the deciding factor, said Duett, who coached at WC for eight seasons.

“This is not bad news,” Duett said. “We made the decision in the fall to go one more year. It’s just like I told everyone, I’ve been involved in basketball since I was 7 and as we grow older our priorities change.”

Duett, 38, stayed on for this season because he had grown close to his senior-laden team. The team had an extended meeting after its loss to Greenville where one player said, “everyone’s heads were down.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Duett met with his team again.

“It really caught us off guard,” center Michael Castellane said. “We’re really gonna miss him. He was a good coach.”

Duett led the Vikings to a 100-133 record in his eight years, but only advanced to the playoffs one time in 1995, where they lost to Harrison Central in the first round. That team was Duett’s most successful, record-wise, at 22-10.

This season, WC went into the playoffs 14-14 and won six of its last eight. In the tournament opener, though, Greenville beat the Vikings by six to end their season.

Duett spent several minutes on the bench, head in hands well after the game ended.

“I was upset we had lost because I thought we would have won,” he said. “I always get upset at the end of the season. I know our record is not what we would have liked, but we have done a good job in other things.”

During his tenure, 40 of his 43 seniors have graduated. All five seniors on this year’s team are scheduled for graduation.

Before taking over the varsity team, Duett spent eight years coaching WC’s ninth-grade team, leading it to a 92-36 record.

“I have enjoyed my time here,” Duett said. “If I have one regret, it’s that we didn’t win a state championship.”

He said he wants to continue teaching government classes because, “that’s all I’ve ever known.”

Vicksburg-Warren athletics director Lum Wright Jr. said he will advertise to fill the spot soon.

“We wish him well,” he said.

As for the extra free time, Duett said he has no plans, except “I have a wife and a 7-year-old to take up my time. That excites me.”