Reports of Larry Niemeyer's retirement as coach of the Jefferson girls basketball and softball teams have been greatly exaggerated.

Niemeyer retired his teaching post at Jefferson last spring, but said he would continue his coaching duties. However, in the minutes of the Aug. 22 Cedar Rapids school board meeting it was noted that he had resigned both coaching positions on July 25.

Jefferson Athletics Director Scott Kibby said Monday that submitting his retirement was necessary to get Niemeyer off the rolls of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS). Kibby said Niemeyer will be rehired at a later date to both positions. He said the same protocol was followed when Ron Tower retired last spring and was rehired to coach boys and girls cross country this fall and boys track next spring.

"It was a formality to get (Niemeyer) out of the IPERS system," Kibby said. "We did the same thing with Ron Tower and the same thing with Bill Calloway several years ago."

Calloway is the Jefferson girls track coach.

Niemeyer is the national leader among high school softball coaches with 2,055 career victories. His 861 career victories in girls basketball rank 13th nationally.