Red Bank coach Brandon CrewsTwo of Justin Robertson's first chores as he takes over from Gail Chuy as principal at Red Bank High School will be to find a new girls' basketball coach and an assistant baseball coach.
Brandon Crews, who filled both positions for the Lions, has resigned to take a job at White Plains High in Alabama, where he will be reunited with his high school coach as an assistant boys' basketball coach.
"I'm going back home. It's where I grew up," Crews said. "The main thing is that I get to coach alongside the man who is the whole reason I'm in coaching today. I have great respect for him and he had a big influence on my life. That's an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
His Lady Lions went 12-16 but finished as District 6-AA runners-up and made it to the region semifinals.
"We started slow and got better as the year went on. I think we played our best basketball toward the end of the year," Crews said. "I think it was the first Red Bank team to win a region basketball game in almost two decades."
"I liked Brandon," Chuy said. "We were impressed with him from the first. He was very knowledgeable, and he had some great ideas about building the program to where it should be. I was sad to see him leave. It's hard to find good, dedicated girls' basketball coaches, but he really embraced the girls and the program and I appreciated that about him."
Working as an assistant for Trey Hicks, Crews also embraced the baseball team, which made a late-season run into the state tournament.
"It was nuts," Crews recalled. "I'm going to miss working with Trey Hicks. We had a great group of guys, and that run at the end of the season is something I'll never forget. I hate it that I won't be around for next year, because I think they have the opportunity to have a really special year."
Crews also had some kind words for Chuy, who has moved from Red Bank to East Hamilton.
"I'm thankful she gave me the opportunity," he said. "She was great to work for. She supports her teachers and coaches. She hired good people and allowed them to do their jobs."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.