Barham out at Marengo Academy

Marengo Academy parted ways with first-year headmaster and football coach David Barham Thursday according to a call issued by its Parent Reach system.

The Watchman spoke with MA Board President Mike Emmons by phone Thursday night.

“He is no longer headmaster,” said Emmons. Emmons offered no further comment.

The move comes a little more than a month after Marengo Academy hired Barham to replace Gary Caldwell, who stepped down two weeks earlier.

Caldwell accepted the same positions in February and stepped down as headmaster after being relieved from football coaching duties. At the time of the move, the board cited its desire for Caldwell to focus primarily on administrative duties.

The board named Webb Tutt head football coach for the remainder of the season in the wake of Barham’s departure and will now enter into the search for a new headmaster.

“We are going to look forward and not behind,” Tutt said of his team’s focus for the remainder of the 2015 campaign. “I told our kids the only things we can control are what happens in the classroom and the football field.”

The tumultuous run for MA began with the retirement of Robby James as headmaster and football coach following the 2014 season. The Linden-based private school has officially made four coaching changes since that time and is in search of its third headmaster.

Barham leaves with a 1-1 record as the Longhorns head coach. The Longhorns are idle this week and host South Choctaw Academy next Thursday.