Abilene ISD didn’t have to look far to find Bryan Conover’s replacement as the Cooper boys basketball coach.

Tuesday morning, first-year AISD Athletic Director Jim Garfield introduced Michael Bacon as the Cougars new coach, tabbing one of Conover’s assistants for the position.

The popularity of the hire was evident at his introductory press conference in AISD’s administration building as former players of Bacon’s from previous head coaching jobs were in attendance, one driving in from Lubbock, as were ACU coach Brette Tanner and McMurry coach Zach Pickelman.