Brian Brandtner is back, this time at Cooter

Brian Brandtner, whose short stays at Bell City at Caruthersville led both schools to a string of 20-win seasons, will try to work the same magic at Cooter next season. The school said Tuesday it's formally hired Brandtner as its new boys basketball coach.

Brandtner will also teach history at the high school. He replaces Delane Beckwith, who coached the Wildcats for three seasons.

In a little more than three full seasons at Bell City and three more in Caruthersville, Brandtner's style on and off the court drew criticism, but his results on the court were a hit with fans. Two of his three seasons at Caruthersville produced 20 wins apiece; he left there for a job at Bell City, where two of his three teams lost in the state championship and each won at least 25 games.

Brandtner's departure from Bell City was a sudden one; he was suspended in December 2008 amid an investigation into conduct off the court. He was never reinstated.

Cooter's hiring is the 10th boys basketball coaching job filled since the end of the season in March. Several area schools remain in the hunt for coaches, including Doniphan, Festus, Hillsboro, Kelly and Woodland.