BY RICH HILLIARD

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

HONEY GROVE -- There have been 90-plus applicants to be the next head football coach and athletic director at Honey Grove, which is again flirting with dropping to Class 1A in the next realignment.

"It is going well. We've had a lot of applicants and are narrowing it down. We've done the first round of interviews and are in the middle of the second round," Honey Grove superintendent Jeff Clark said. "We hope to get someone named in a month."

Honey Grove's next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan 11.

The new hire will replace James Fuller, who is retiring after three years at Honey Grove following stops at Greenville and Wolfe City during his long coaching career.

Honey Grove finished 3-7 and 2-5 this fall in District 11-2A under Fuller, who was promoted to head football coach in 2007. He coached quarterbacks and defensive ends during the previous season, his first at the school.

Fuller compiled a 14-16 record in three seasons as head coach as Honey Grove missed the playoffs each year after being a 2006 2A Division II area finalist.

A 6-4 effort in 2008 represented the best effort under Fuller for Honey Grove, which included a 3-0 start.

The new coach will inherit a program likely either headed for Division I of 1A or Division II of 2A as the respective classifications will be split by the University Interscholastic League in 2010.

Honey Grove submitted a 195 average daily membership for the 2010 realignment -- 13 below its 2008 number and four below the maximum for 1A that year.

A drop to 1A could possibly put Honey Grove into a district alignment with geographical rivals like Celeste and Wolfe City, which have served as non-district opponents in football in recent years.

Conversely, a continued stay in 2A would likely put Honey Grove near the bottom enrollment-wise in Division II.