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Sexton, the coach for boys varsity and girls junior varsity basketball, has likely seen his final days on the sideline for Bellaire High SchoolÕs girls basketball program, due to the recent law suit against the Michigan High School Athletic Association that forced the MHSAA to change sports seasons. Girls and boys basketball now take place together, in the winter season, forcing some coaches to make a decision on what sport, or even gender, they coach.

ÒThereÕs no way to do both, coach girls and boys now,Ó Sexton said. ÒSo, IÕm sticking with the boys. I suspect my role with the girls, has gone by.Ó

The decision doesnÕt seem tough on the surface Ð coaching a perennial power or junior varsity squad - but Sexton says it will be tough to go without.

ÒIÕve enjoyed coaching the girls teams and done it since 1975,Ó he said. ÒThe girls have always been a coachable group.Ó

Sexton, however, suspected he soon would need to choose between coaching boys and girls, knowing an impending decision from the United State Supreme Court could change the high school schedules at any time.

ÒItÕs been on the horizon for years, itÕs just been a matter of time,Ó Sexton said. ÒI pretty much decided, before last week, that I would only coach the boys, when the schedule changed.Ó

Sexton says his former post as jv coach, likely will be a posted want ad in the near future, leaving girls varsity coach George Mason and Bellaire athletic director Deb Larson, looking to fill SextonÕs role.

When he coached the girls, he was able to sit on the varsity girls sideline and help Mason, after the jv game finished.

ÒWhen our game was done, IÕd sit with the varsity team and try to help as much as I could,Ó Sexton said. ÒBut there will probably be a new coach and I probably wonÕt get involved with the girls team. Too many cooks, spoil a broth.Ó

He added other obstacles, such as hiring new coaches, will likely happen in the early stages of the schedule realignment and coaches should be prepared.

ÒThere will be speed bumps in this road,Ó Sexton said. ÒBut eventually, those things will smooth out. No matter what, we are going to make this work and move forward. If 48 other states can do it, so can we.Ó