The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-19
SOUTHPORT HIRES COACH JANIS FRANCIS
New Mentor
Will Direct
Basket Team
JefferSonviIIe Officials Rec
ommend Leader of State
Runner-Up.
BY DICK MILLER,
Times Sports Writer.

Times Sports Nritef.
Janis p. Hunk Francis. former
basketball coach at Jacksonville
high school. has been appointed net
coach at Southport High School for
the 1856 school year. according
to Leonard A. Hohlt. Perry Town
ship trustee. Francis signed the
contract yesterday afternoon, but
the tegns were kept secret by both
parties.
Francis for the past five years
coached high-grade hardwood flves
at Jacksonville High School. The
1884 team reached the semi-finals
OF the state tournament here while
his 1895 aggregation was runner-up
to Anderson for the state title. Loss
of the final game brought charges
against Francis that later resulted
in his leaving the downstate school.
Ill at State Tourney
The Jacksonville Evening News
in an editorial two days after the
state tournament charged that
Francis was intoxicated on the last
Cay OF the tournament, severely
criticised him and said they had in
formation he had resigned and left
town.
The paper later declared they had
information gamblers had bet heav-
lily against Jacksonville in the last
game with Anderson and indicated
they thought Coach Francis either
had been "doped" or framed by
persons who posed as his friends.
Coach Francis refused to COM
ment on the charges at the time,
declared Anderson was the better
team in the final game and adj
vanced several reasons why his
team didn't win. He then retreated
to his home near Avon. Ind.
Cleared by School Officials
Coaches who talked to Coach
Francis on the last day of the state
tournament labeled as unjust the
attack on him by Jacksonville fans
and said they saw nothing wrong
with him on the final day except
!. nervousness and an inability to take
food.
Since that time the Jeffersonville
fans evidently have rallied to his
defense and recommendations have
been given him within the last few
days by members of the Jefferson
willie school board. Superintendent
of Schools E. c. McCullum and DR..
II. H. Reeder, who acted as team
physician.
Mr.. Francis succeeds Ray Scott,
who has been at Southport three
years.
During the five years that Coach
Francis was at Jacksonville, 1880
IS, inclusive. his teams won lit
games and lost IA. The team this
wear won 81 consecutive games be-
fore the Anderson defeat and bid
fair to become the first indicated
team in Indiana basketball history
to capture the state title.
Denies Resignation Reports
That there was a chance of Coach
Francis staying in Jeffersonville
was evinced by the fact minutes of
a school board meeting March %
: revealed he had been in conference
with the board.
Reports that his resignation was
tenered were denied yesterday by
the coach.
The Jeffersonville Evening News
conducted a poll among its readers
at the time it was being advocated
that a successor be named, for
Coach Francis. The ballot included
the names of several applicants and
others who might be offered the job.
The name of Coach Francis was
omitted, but when a count was
made it was discovered that Glenn
Curtiss, popular Martinsville coach,
who was the heavy vote getter
among those slated, defeated Coach
Francis by only - votes.
Officials Make Statements
Mr.. Hohlt and several other
Perry Township officials visited
Jacksonville wednesday and con-
ferred with school board members
and other school and town officials
The board informed him, and in
Guided in the recommendation ii
gave Coach Francis, that in the
March 90 meeting members agreed
with him that it might be best fol
him to sign elsewhere if the OPP
portunity prevailed. Charles Mach
and, president of the board, who
signed the recommendation, said:
at is needless to comment on his
ability and reputation as a coach
Coach Francis never has been
guilty of INSTRUMENTATION. Mr.
Nachand declared, and added: In
fact. his actions and influence from
a general disciplinary standpoint
have been most helpful and bene-
fetal"
Superintendent McCullum said
Mr.. Francis success is well known
that his attitude always is on the
right side, that he is cooperative
= and responds to all supervision
that he is industrious and that he
(Nir. McCullum) personally recon-
mendS him.
DR.. Reeder said he believes that
any school that obtains Coach
Francis services will be well re-
warded.
Francis graduated from Danville