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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–Longtime Litchville-Marion-Montpelier head basketball coach Dave Handt has resigned his position as girls basketball coach of the Rebels.

Athletic Director Steve Larson said Wednesday that Handt resigned for personal reasons, saying Handt felt his effectiveness “just wasn’t there anymore” and that his players needed the change.

Handt entered the system as an assistant girls coach of the Kathryn Bobcats in 1980, and took over as head coach two years later.  He also coached the LMM boys team before the boys and girls seasons were combined in 2002.

Tim Herman also left his position as assistant coach of the team.  Former LMM coach Jeff Piehl as taken over as head girls coach, with Julie Smith filling the role as assistant, for the remainder of the year.

The Rebels will enter a co-op with LaMoure next season, and according to Larson, all the basketball coaching positions will reopen at that time.  He said he holds out the possiblility that Handt may return to coaching.