The search continues for a new boys basketball coach at Warren Central.

Lanier High School coach Thomas Billups said that he is no longer a candidate to direct the Warren Central basketball program, which is looking to replace former coach Jesse Johnson.

Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford confirmed that Billups, who had been the choice of an initial search committee at Warren Central, could not agree to terms and that the position is being re-advertised.

Billups, who won eight state championships and made six other appearances in the state finals at Lanier, said he will remain the basketball coach at the Jackson school.

“I’ll be back at Lanier,” Billups said. “We just couldn’t get the money right. I wanted what (Josh) Morgan, the football coach, gets (in his supplement). When we were talking, it was my understanding I’d be a part-time PE (physical education) coach. Then they changed it and said I would have to teach a computer class. I’m retired (from the classroom). I’m not going back into the classroom.”

Swinford did not address the classroom issue, but said it was a salary issue,

“We weren’t able to work out a salary, so we’re going to go in a different direction,” Swinford. “There were no bad feelings in this.”

When asked why the district would not go ahead and offer the position to the No. 2 candidate, who Billups said was former New Hope coach Robert Byrd, Swinford said she wanted a new search.

“I never want to limit our options,” Swinford said. “When it got out that Coach Billups had applied, we felt some coaches may have backed away. Now that coach Billups is not coming, we can make sure we get the right match for our kids.”

Swinford said that coaches who interviewed are encouraged to reapply, but they would not be interviewed again.

“We already have their interview scores, so there is no need for them to reinterview,” Swinford said. “We had a great pool of

candidates. Coach Billups had won eight state championships. The coach at New Hope had won one and so did the coach from Forest. While I want the best coach we can get, I also want someone who will be willing to stick with the program and will teach our kids the value of sportsmanship.”

Byrd led New Hope to the Class 5A boys championship in 2008 and then retired. The Forest coach is Roy Pinkston, who led the Bearcats to the Class 3A state title. Other coaches interviewed include Petal’s Tory Harris, Port Gibson’s Kim Windom and Forest (La.) coach Jimmy Nail.

Swinford said the process is also ongoing for a new baseball coach at Vicksburg High Cody Zumbro resigned after one season and will return to his previous position as an assistant coach at Clinton.

“I was sad to see Coach Zumbro go, but that was his decision and it was for his family,” Swinford said. “That position is still being advertised. Principal (Derrick) Reed is handling that search.”

In another matter, a new sport may be coming to Warren County. Swinford said she might bring a budget request to start a volleyball program at both Vicksburg and Warren Central.

“It’s something we’re trying to do for our next budget session,” Swinford said of the addition of girls volleyball for the upcoming fall season. “We have a lot of interest in it at Warren Central. It was totally student-driven, which is always good to see.”