CHERRY TWP — Meet the new boss; the same as the old boss.

After two months of heated meetings, accusations of misconduct and three rounds of interviews, Randy Armagost was rehired as the Moniteau High boys basketball coach at the Moniteau School Board meeting Monday night.

"The whole time I had faith I would get my job back," Armagost said. "It was like the feeling I had when I got my first job."

Armagost, 42, has spent eight seasons as the Warriors coach. But on April 14, the Moniteau school board voted 6-3 to open the position.

The move became a lightning rod for his supporters and critics alike.

Some parents and community members were pleased the position was opened. They were concerned about Armagost's conduct with his players and thought the time had come to replace him.

Armagost also had plenty of backers, many of whom filed into weekly school board meetings to speak on his behalf.

"A lot of people supported me," Armagost said. "That's a big reason why I did get my job back."

The board voted 5-2 to rehire Armagost.

There were six candidates for the job.

Armagost said he was not told at the school board meeting Monday why he was rehired.

"And I didn't ask, either," he said. "I was just so freakin' happy to get it."

Moniteau athletic director Jim Metz knew the reason, however, and he said it was a simple one.

"The bottom line was he was the best candidate for the position," he said.

Metz also said the other five candidates were well qualified and forced the board and hiring committee into several rounds of interviews.

"It was a great pool of candidates," Metz said. "It was a very difficult decision."

Armagost, who has posted a 112-87 record in his career at Moniteau, said the criticism he received during the last two months has caused him to consider tweaking how he operates.

"Yeah, it's going to have to (change)," Armagost said. "There were a few people unhappy with what I was doing. Obviously, I have to change a few things. I know what some of those things were."

Metz said Armagost will be under no added scrutiny. He said he will be held to the same guidelines as any employee of the school district.

During his time in limbo, the school board gave Armagost permission to hold an open gym, and he attended two of the five informal practices.

Moniteau and Armagost will play their scheduled game in the Slippery Rock summer league today. The coach is looking to enter his team into other summer tournaments.

"I'm excited to get going again," Armagost said. "I'm excited to get the kids back and get raring to go."