ROGERS — Every coaching job Bill Niven has taken during the last 41 years has been a challenge, and his next job may be his biggest yet.

Decatur superintendent Larry Ben said Thursday he will recommend Niven be named the girls’ basketball coach at the school board meeting.

That move appears to be a formality because Niven already met the Lady Bulldogs last week. Niven will be coaching girls for the first time after being the boys’ head coach at Hope; Pleasant View, Texas; Rogers High; Texarkana; and Green Forest.

“We are thrilled to have him,” Ben said. “Coach Niven called me one day last week,and he told me he missed coaching. I was a little bit surprised, but we are excited about it.”

Niven coached at Green Forest for six years before announcing his retirement following the 2010 season. But soon after hanging up his whistle, Niven said he missed coaching.

“Us old coaches, we have a need for a challenge, and we have a need for competition,” Niven said. “I just decided to get back in the saddle. I love teaching. That is what I am all about: teaching kids how to play.”

Niven guided Hope to the 1986 Class 3A state title and then took the Rogers job in ’87. Niven’s third Rogers team went to the state tournamentin 1991, breaking an almost 20-year postseason drought. He then coachedat Texarkana before moving to Green Forest.

Niven will inherit a program at Decatur similar to the one he inherited at Green Forest. The year before arriving at Green Forest, the Tigers were 0-23after being mercy ruled 17 times. Three seasons later, Green Forest qualified for the state tournament.

“Every job I have had has been a challenge, and that is by design,” Niven said. “Basically, you have nothing to lose.”

Niven knows success won’t come quickly but said he is convinced Decatur can fielda competitive program. Niven will move to Benton County as quickly as possible and said he is committed to rebuilding the girls’ program.

“Obviously, the fundamentals have to be taught,” Niven said. “The kids also have to learn how to win, and that is a hard thing to do. The kids have to get some confidence. With confidence will come a win or two.”

Niven graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1965 and from Hendrix College in 1969.He earned a master's in physical education from Central Arkansas in 1972 while coaching basketball at Poplar Street Junior High in North Little Rock.

Niven’s son Aaron is the assistant men’s basketball coach at John Brown University and played for his father at Rogers. His daughter Amy lives in Cave Springs with her husband and three children. In all, Niven has six grandchildren.

“We will be 30 minutes from them. That’s a good thing,” Niven said.

News, Pages 1 on 05/02/2012