Corby Laube did not have to look far to find a new girls basketball coach for Marion High School.

He's taking the job himself.

Marion High School Principal Greg Semler announced Friday morning that Laube will coach the girls basketball team next season in addition to his duties as the school's activities director.

Laube succeeds Brian O'Donnell, who resigned to become the new principal at St. Piux X Elementary School in Cedar Rapids.

The Marion school district does not have any rules that prohibit an administrator from also serving as a coach. Once Laube expressed interest in the coaching job, he removed himself from the search process and deferred to others.

Laube has an extensive background in basketball. He starred at Mount Mercy University, where he ranks No. 3 on the career scoring list, and was a senior in 1995-96 when the Mustangs won 29 games, captured a conference title and reached the Sweet 16 of the NAIA national tournament.

Laube served as Marion's boys basketball coach from 1999 to 2008 before becoming the activities director four years ago. He was named the Wamac Conference Coach of the Year four times and led the Indians to three straight league titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Laube continued to coach youth teams in Marion after he became the activities director and also worked with individual players during that time. "It's something I love to do," he said.

Laube said he did not anticipate becoming a coach again, but things changed when O'Donnell decided to leave Marion after two years. "I had tons of people approach me right away and ask me," he said. "It was a flood of people."

Laube had concerns about the logistical problems of serving as a coach and activities director at the same time, but he's been assured by Semler that he'll get the help he needs.

"I would never have done this if they were not encouraging me to go through with it and it would be fine," said Laube. "The big thing was I wanted to make sure I could do this job (serving as activities director) 100 percent."

The Marion girls basketball team compiled a 15-9 record last season and reached the regional finals with a young team. "I'm really excited to get in there and work with those kids," he said.

Laube has a bachelor's degree from Mount Mercy and a master's degree from Coe. He and his wife, Ami, have three children.