Having won many games at the previous three Southwest Virginia boys basketball programs he’s helmed, Aaron Williams will now try to reinvigorate the hoops hopes of the Rye Cove Eagles.
The appointment of Williams became official during a Scott County School Board meeting on Tuesday as did several other coaching hires at the Cumberland District school.
Williams takes over for Adam Hood, who shifts over to leading the girls basketball team at the Cove.
Meanwhile, Hayley Wolfe White is the Eagles’ new volleyball coach.
It will mark the return to the sidelines for Williams, one of the area’s most respected and accomplished coaches.
An Indiana native, the 55-year-old Williams has had successful stints at Castlewood, J.I. Burton and Abingdon and led all three to state tournament berths. Abingdon finished as the 2020-21 VHSL Class 3 state runner-up under Williams’ watch. He has a 329-174 record as a boys varsity coach in Virginia and is 471-236 overall.
“I was approached by decision makers from Rye Cove because they see the value of older coaches from outside of their community to come in and influence their youth from a different perspective and use the experiences of a coach who has many life and coaching experiences to draw from to try and build up the next generation,” Williams said. “Really, I feel God led me to this place.”
Williams assisted Hood the past two seasons and had a unique arrangement in which he was still able to watch his daughter, Sarah Williams, play for the girls basketball team at J.I. Burton. Sarah Williams helped Burton finish as Region 1D runner-up and will enroll at Montreat College in North Carolina this fall.
“I very much appreciated the administration at Rye Cove and Scott County Schools to allow me to prioritize my daughter’s basketball journey,” Williams said. “I wanted to be there for her and support her and I want to show my appreciation by doing a good job with this program now.”
Williams has a tough task as the Eagles are 24-43 over the past three seasons and haven’t made the Region 1D tournament since 2018.
“It will be a challenge but there are some key adults who have been very supportive and hopefully with strong leadership the kids will follow,” Williams said. “We are going to do some different things to build up the basketball program. Using travel to give the kids some experiences, having a band at home ballgames, having an announcer at games, having an organized youth program. Hopefully, this will energize the kids and community for what the game of basketball will bring to their development as players and people.”
Meanwhile, Hood replaces Kelly Franklin Hood – his sister-in-law – in leading the girls team.
Kelly Franklin Hood was 134-159 during two stints at the Cove: from the 2011-12 season through the 2018-19 campaign and again from 2020-21 through this past winter. A Region 1D runner-up finish and state tourney berth in 2019 was among the highlights.
Adam Hood sees no problem in making the change since he has three daughters: 12-year-old Lillie, 8-year-old Maddie and 2-year-old J.B.
“I’m a girl dad and I just feel like I connect with them better than I do boys,” Hood said.
Rye Cove went 14-13 this past season and the Eagles were competitive with the top teams in the league.
“I think these girls are willing to put some time in the gym,” Hood said. “Kelly did an awesome job. The kids compete at a level that it takes to win. We’re just going to add some stuff to that foundation.”
Hood is the all-time leading scorer at Rye Cove, finishing with 2,033 career points when he graduated in 2007. He is loyal to his alma mater.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to help and support my administration in their goal of having strong athletic programs at the Cove. I just want to thank my principal and athletic director for giving me these opportunities,” Hood said. “Also, my wife, Kiera, for all the sacrifices. Without her, I couldn’t do this crazy job.”
Wolfe was the 2014 VHSL Class 2 state player of the year at Gate City and most recently assisted the program at Twin Springs.
Meanwhile, Williams is ready to get back to work with his rebuilding project.
“We want kids who are serious about developing their game,” Williams said. “It takes a lot of hard work but it’s worth it.”
Also at Tuesday’s school board meeting, Terry Bird was approved as the new girls basketball coach at Twin Springs.