Pioneer expected to name McWherter girls basketball coach

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Girls basketball

Pioneer was expected to hire Dave McWherter as the school’s new girls basketball coach, pending approval at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

If hired, this would be McWherter’s second stint as Pioneer girls coach. He also coached the team from 2011-15 during which Pioneer went 11-69.

McWherter was an assistant under interim coach Adam Berry in 2023-24. Pioneer went 6-16 last season but returns four starters in Makenna Strycker, Mia McKaig, Lois Layer and Kynzie Hathaway.

Julia McGrew, Jocelyn Kain and Hannah Zeigler are others who saw playing time in Pioneer’s sectional semifinal loss to Winamac who do not graduate.

Pioneer is expected to drop from Class 2A to Class 1A for the next two-year cycle.

McWherter was also Pioneer’s boys coach from 2004-09.