here will be several different faces patrolling the sidelines during Cumberland District girls basketball games when the 2025-26 season begins.
Four schools in the six-team league will have new girls basketball coaches when the 2025-26 season begins.
Eastside’s Terri Anne Hill Funk, J.I. Burton’s Terry Sturgill and Rye Cove’s Kelly Franklin Hood confirmed on Wednesday that they have resigned from their positions. All cited family reasons.
Robin Tiller of Twin Springs had announced on March 4 that he had stepped down from his post.
Funk had a fantastic three-year run at Eastside, going 60-26 with a Region 1D and VHSL Class 1 state championship in 2024 and a regional and state runner-up finish in 2023.
A multi-sport star at St. Paul High School and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Funk also had a stint leading the girls hoops program at St. Paul.
“It is with a heavy heart that I will be resigning from coaching at Eastside High School,” Funk said. “To say this has been amazing would be an understatement. My girls the past three years have brought so much joy to my life, as well as, my entire family. I do not believe my coaching days are over just on hold for a bit.”
“The only reason I am stepping away is to be with my family, specifically my parents. I would like to thank Eastside High School and the entire communities of Coeburn and St. Paul – there is not a better place to teach and coach. I was privileged to coach each athlete and take only positive memories from the past three years. Most would say the state championship was the biggest highlight but for me it was the relationship with my girls and coaching staff; I had the absolute best and that is why we were successful. We have an amazing team returning next year with a core group of seniors that will lead the way with high expectations, I will be their biggest fan.”
Meanwhile, Sturgill went 79-42 in his five seasons, none of which ended with a sub-.500 record.
The Raiders won the Region 1D championship and advanced to the state semifinals during the 2022-23 season and this past winter went 22-5, finishing as Region 1D runner-up to Honaker and falling to eventual VHSL Class 1 champ George Wythe in the state quarterfinals.
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Terry Sturgill has resigned as head coach of the J.I. Burton girls basketball team.
“Due to my kids getting more involved in sports I owe it to my family to step away from coaching,” Sturgill said. “It has been an honor to be the girls head basketball coach at John I. Burton High School for the past five years. I had the opportunity to coach some amazing players at Burton and make some great memories that will last a lifetime. This was a difficult decision to make but for my family I think this was the right decision.”