Barnes is Carson's new coach

Bruce Barnes is a Senator once again.

The former Carson High School basketball star and junior varsity coach will be named the Senators' new varsity coach pending approval by the school board, the Nevada Appeal learned on Friday.

Several sources who wished to remain unidentified confirmed the move by a six-member panel that interviewed four candidates.

Barnes takes over for Tom Andreasen, who resigned in March to concentrate on his duties as Carson High's athletics director.

Barnes is an employee of the Carson City School District who works in the education department at the prison. After graduating from Carson in 1983, he played for three seasons at Menlo College. He then returned to Carson City and served as the junior varsity coach for five seasons, guiding the J.V. team to one of its longest winning streaks in school history.

Barnes also assisted Carson varsity coach Pete Padgett. Last season, he was an assistant to Eric Swain at McQueen.

Barnes was not available for comment. Speaking on Friday before he knew of the hiring decision, Barnes said he felt his interview had gone well.

Four in-district candidates for the coaching vacancy - Barnes, Todd Ackerman, Rob Streeter and Ric Garcia - were interviewed on Thursday by a six-member panel that included Principal Glen Adair, Athletics Director Andreasen, Vice Principal Harvey Walker, Dean of Students Fred Predomo, football coach Bob Bateman and baseball coach Ron McNutt.

The job was only open to employees of the Carson City School District.

Streeter is the current Senator J.V. coach, while Ackerman is serving as the Carson track and field coach. Garcia recently resigned his head coaching position at Dayton High.

"No, I'm not surprised. It's a good choice," Ackerman said. "I think Bruce will do a good job."

Senator senior Cody Longero, who has started for Carson the last two years and is regarded as one of the top players in the region next season, said he was glad to hear the news of a successor.

"I'm glad it's cleared up. I'm looking forward to getting ready for my senior year," Longero said. "He's a good coach. I think we all have the same goal in mind. We want to win and we want to represent Carson well. With the guys we have coming back, I think we can do well."

Other Northern 4A coaches said the hiring of Barnes will be good for the Carson program.

"I have respect for Bruce - he's always been associated with a winning team," said Galena coach Tom Maurer. "He will have Carson working really hard next season."