The Crawford Central School Board wasted no time in naming Dean Henderson’s replacement as the head girls basketball coach at Meadville High School.

On Monday, the board approved the hiring of Darryl Jones as Henderson’s successor, the same day the board voted to accept Henderson’s resignation.

“Darryl Jones is a class individual,” Crawford Central School District Superintendent Mike Dolecki said. “He’s been involved with basketball a good part of his life. I think he’ll be a great communicator and will continue to move the program forward.”

Jones, a former Major League baseball player with the Yankees organization, is excited about the new opportunity.

“I’m very excited about it,” he said. “I’m excited about getting involved with a program with a winning tradition. I’m excited about the girls coming back. There is a lot of talent there.”

As far as replacing Henderson, Jones said he just hopes he can live up to what Henderson brought to the Meadville program.

“He brought the program to a high level in District 10,” Jones said. “It’s an honor to come in after him.”

By taking the head coaching position with the girls, Jones will have to leave his position as the assistant boys basketball coach at Meadville. Jones, who has coached the Meadville girls at the elementary level in the past, served under Norm Price for four seasons.

“I want to thank Norm Price for giving me the opportunity to learn the Xs and Os of basketball. He taught me a lot.”

Jones becomes Meadville’s ninth girls basketball coach since the program began in 1972-73.

Jones takes over a program that has made it to the playoffs the last three years. Last year, the Lady Bulldogs finished with their second 20-win season in three seasons and earned their first state playoff berth in seven seasons.