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Cowan picks 'real deal,' hires former Monroe Central coach as girls basketball coach

MUNCIE, Ind. — Since Jeff Tharp decided it was time to leave Monroe Central, he’s always thought if the right opportunity opened up he would be interested.

That was the spring of 2014, when he resigned from his position as the Golden Bears girls basketball coach after seven seasons. Two sectional titles and five winning seasons in tow, he soon after took a call from then-Muncie Central girls coach Lisa Blalock and began coaching at Southside Middle School. Last year, Tharp stepped away from that and scouted for a few area coaches.

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And then he learned after the 2018-19 season Cowan’s school board declined to bring back its girls basketball coach, John Skinner.