Two days into the season and the Vienna High School girls’ basketball team has a new coach leading the program.

KC Curler, in her fourth season as Lady Eagle basketball head coach, resigned that position on Tuesday, Nov. 3 due to health reasons. The first day of practice was Monday, Nov. 2.

Taniya Corley, in her first season teaching and coaching in the school district, has been named the Lady Eagles’ interim head coach. Corley will not be named the team’s new head coach until the school’s board of education meets next week to make the move official.

Kevin Schwartze, Vienna Athletic Director, will serve as Corley’s assistant coach.

Curler will continue her teaching duties this school year. She teaches Vienna Middle School health and Vienna Elementary School physical education.

Curler said it’s not clear what her health situation is. She has missed several days with issues during this school year and, after a couple of practices last week, didn’t feel she could fulfill her duties as basketball head coach.

“They are doing further tests,” Curler said of her medical situation. “We’re trying to find out what it is. But I didn’t think it was fair to the team, me constantly sick. I was at practice Monday and Tuesday and knew then it would be too much. The kids have been wonderful; it’s an amazing group of girls. Not only in basketball, but just great kids.”

“The timing is never good,” Schwartze said of the sudden coaching opening. “But Coach Curler has more important things to worry about. I certainly understand. The girls are going to miss her, for sure.”

Schwartze added that the Lady Eagles will be in good hands with Corley in charge.

“She’s do fine,” he said. “With Coach Corley, the girls are excited. They got to know her when she worked with the program this summer. They know she knows her stuff, and they respect her.”

It is the first coaching position for Corley outside of college. Like Curler, Corley was a standout basketball player at Rolla High School.

Corley graduated from Rolla in 2022 and played one season of basketball at Crowder College, before injury sidelined her. After her playing career, Corley stayed at Crowder as team manager for one season and then was hired as a full-time assistant coach for the squad, a role she served the previous two seasons.

She left Crowder to take her Vienna position in May.

Corley teaches math in grades 6-8 at the Vienna Middle School and also coached the junior high girls’ basketball team this past season.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first,” Corley said when hearing that Curler was resigning. “But after three days it assured me that although challenging, I will be able to do it. It also helps to have the leadership we have on the team, with one senior and some juniors.”

Corley said she has learned from working with Curler over the summer and will continue to lean on her for advice throughout this season.

“She greeted me with a smile and has been a great help,” Corley said of Curler. “Although she had to step down, she will still be very supportive of me and these kids.”

“She will be awesome,” Curler said of the new Lady Eagle head coach. “They will do wonderful with her.”