Cornell Young has been hired as the new varsity boys basketball coach at Middleton, athletic director Derrick Gaines announced.

Young will replace former Gibbs coach Larry Murphy, who decided not to pursue the position after accepting it during the spring.

Murphy was hired to replace Derek Smith, the program’s first head coach who decided to part ways after last season.

“He’s going to be able to be on campus as the P.E. coach so he’ll be somebody who can watch our young men,” Gaines said. “We hit it off real well. He believes in players being accountable and doing well in the classroom.”

Middleton has been to the playoffs the last two seasons and won the Class 5A-10 district title in 2006-07. The Tigers advanced to the 5A regional quarterfinals with an 18-10 record last season.