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Simpson Academy is excited to announce the promotion of Linda Dear to head varsity girls basketball coach. Dear will be replacing Josh McNulty who recently resigned his position at SCA. Coach Dear served as varsity assistant and head junior high coach last season. This will be Dear’s second stint as head girls coach at Simpson.
Coach Dear’s coaching career began in 1980 at Union Academy. Dear would eventually become the head coach at Simpson in 1988, and over the next ten years, she compiled a record of 299 wins and only 62 losses. During this span, the Lady Cougars won three State Championships and won 30 or more games 6 times.
Brandon High school would be Coach Dear’s next stop. Prior to Dear’s arrival the Lady Bulldogs had enjoyed very little success. However, following only 4 wins in her first year, Dear built them into winners. In her last three years at the Rankin county school, the Lady Bulldogs made three straight Class 5A playoff appearances. Her overall coaching record stands at 415 wins and 198 losses.
Coach Dear and her husband Phil have been married 43 years. They are the parents of two children Brandi Smith (Mike) and Travis Dear (Jessica).
“It is great to be back home,” said Dear. “I loved my time at Brandon, but being back at Simpson is great!” Both of my kids graduated at SCA, and it is such a special place to me and my family.”
Simpson Headmaster Billy W. Hankins said he was thrilled to have Dear back in charge of the Lady Cougars. Coach Dear is one of the top coaches in the State of Mississippi, and she will do an outstanding job with our student athletes. She is not only a great coach but is a person of great integrity. I also would like to thank Josh McNulty for his hard work as our girls coach. Coach McNulty instilled a great work ethic into our program, and we are grateful to him for all he did for our school.
