Hamilton Heights has named former Brainerd assistant coach Stephen Cook as its new boys' basketball coach.
Cook takes over for Zach Ferrell, who recently stepped down after seven years with the Hawks to join the Eastern Florida State College staff.
"I am super excited about this opportunity and I can't wait to get started," Cook said. "I'm very familiar with the program and how Coach Ferrell had things running.
"I believe all of my coaching stops so far have helped prepare me for this because I've been able to do a little bit of everything, from knowing how to run a practice, operating a budget, making travel plans and connecting with college coaches. Basically all the things people don't see a coach do away from the game as well as coaching on the court."
Cook, a 2009 Chattanooga Christian School graduate, was an assistant at Brainerd from 2014 to 2017 and helped the Panthers reach the TSSAA Class AA state tournament three times, including in 2016, when they reached the title game. He was also an assistant at Chattanooga State for two years and spent last season as an assistant at Life University, an NAIA program in Marietta, Georgia.
Cook also was the head coach of the summer league program NLP, which won the 2017 AAU 17-under national championship in Orlando, Florida.
"I like the Christian foundation that's been set here," Cook said. "It's a very family oriented small school, so you can build relationships with students. We have kids from so many countries here who get to experience America through the school, and I'm looking forward to getting to be a part of it."
Hamilton Heights, which has produced NBA players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander Walker, finished last season 28-3 and ranked No. 11 nationally. During Ferrell's seven seasons the Hawks produced 24 players who played collegiately and four who have played professionally, and the program won four National Association of Christian Athletes Division 1 national championships.
"We really like his background in coaching both high school and college kids, plus he's a local guy who knows the city and our program really well," school principal Krystal Bankstown said. "He's a great fit for the ministry of our school and our program and we're excited for him to get started."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.