Kitchen new MJCA girls hoops coach

MT. JULIET — Mt. Juliet Christian's all-time leading scorer will take over the girls basketball program on an interim basis this season.
David Kitchen, who became the Saints' scoring king during his playing career, will take over the Lady Saints this winter after Jon Palmer had to step down due to a job conflict.
Palmer, who coached Mt. Juliet Christian to an 8-21 record in his only season last year, resigned his teaching position at MJCA earlier this fall for a position at Siegel High because his three young daughters attend different schools in Murfreesboro.
He planned to continue coaching the Lady Saints this winter. But Siegel principal Ken Nolan told Palmer he would be required to coach as an assistant for the Lady Stars basketball team this winter. Palmer, the son of longtime MTSU radio play-by-play announcer Dick Palmer, formerly assisted at Oakland High.
Kitchen, 22, scored 1,890 points in an MJCA uniform before graduating in 2002. The son of Mt. Juliet Christian principal Kathy Kitchen is entering his fourth year as a basketball assistant at his alma mater and is finishing his final year as an undergrad at Middle Tennessee State.
Because he is not on the MJCA staff and has less than five years coaching experience, the school requested and received permission from the TSSAA to hire Kitchen as the girls interim coach. He will be assisted by MJCA bible teacher Glenn Dishman. Kitchen will continue to assist Paul Christensen with the boys team this year.
"I'm very excited," Kitchen said. "We have a good group of girls to work with. I'm excited to be working with these girls. We're pretty athletic."
Mt. Juliet Christian will open the season at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 in Unionville against Community in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.