Benton High School announced the hiring of Johnny Coy as the Cardinals new baseball coach on Tuesday.

Coy, a 2008 graduate of Benton, takes over for Mike Musser, who retired at the end of the 2017 season after 30 years on the south side.

Coy helped lead the Cardinals to St. Joseph’s only city baseball state championship back in 2007. Benton went 91-9 during his four years and then he attended Arizona State to play baseball and basketball. After a year in Tempe, he transferred to Wichita State and finished his baseball career with the Shockers.

Coy is also starting his third year as the hitting coach of the St. Joseph Mustangs, as St. Joe’s summer college baseball team begins play next Wednesday.

Benton finished 7-11 this past season as they lost to Lafayette 10-0 in the first round of the Class 4 District 16 tournament.