It was the news nobody involved with the Screven County girls basketball program wanted to hear. Coach Jennifer Acree — who four years ago took a losing program and turned it into 2005 state runner up for region 3-AA— has decided to pack up and take over the storied program at Randolph-Clay High School in Cuthbert, GA.
She will have some large shoes to fill. In last year's state playoffs, Randolph-Clay was the team that knocked Acree's Lady Gamecocks out of the elite eight. In fact, RCHS's only loss in 2005 came in the form of a last second loss in the final four. The man Acree is replacing — coach James Bland — racked up an impressive 601 wins in his 26 years at the helm of the program.
"An oppertunity like this only comes around once every 10-15 years," said Acree.
It is a new oppertunity indeed for the coach, who has already proven that she knows what she is doing with the unmatched success of her lady Gamecocks these past four years. Acree will now have the oppertunity to work with the middle school players and develop them into her system at a younger age.
"Randolph-Clay is (grades) 6-12," Acree said. "Now, when I lose a star player I will have two or three ready to go to replace her. I get the players for seven years instead of four."
In addition to the extra time she will get with her players at Randolph-Clay, Acree will also have three additional assistant coaches helping her guide her Lady Red Devils from the sidelines.
"It will be nice," Acree said, "to have three extra pairs of eyes to catch the things I miss."
She will have some large shoes to fill. In last year's state playoffs, Randolph-Clay was the team that knocked Acree's Lady Gamecocks out of the elite eight. In fact, RCHS's only loss in 2005 came in the form of a last second loss in the final four. The man Acree is replacing — coach James Bland — racked up an impressive 601 wins in his 26 years at the helm of the program.
"An oppertunity like this only comes around once every 10-15 years," said Acree.
It is a new oppertunity indeed for the coach, who has already proven that she knows what she is doing with the unmatched success of her lady Gamecocks these past four years. Acree will now have the oppertunity to work with the middle school players and develop them into her system at a younger age.
"Randolph-Clay is (grades) 6-12," Acree said. "Now, when I lose a star player I will have two or three ready to go to replace her. I get the players for seven years instead of four."
In addition to the extra time she will get with her players at Randolph-Clay, Acree will also have three additional assistant coaches helping her guide her Lady Red Devils from the sidelines.
"It will be nice," Acree said, "to have three extra pairs of eyes to catch the things I miss."
