Socastee alum Derrick Robinson, who has served as an assistant under current Braves coach Tommy Johnson the past two seasons, was named the Loris boys basketball coach earlier this week.
Robinson, 27, played college basketball at Coastal Carolina from 2000-2003. Since leaving CCU, he has served as an assistant coach for three different high school programs. He joined Dan D'Antoni as a Socastee assistant for one season
before landing on Joe Wootten's staff at Bishop O'Connell in Arlington, Va., for two seasons. He then coached at Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., for one season before returning to Socastee.
This will be Robinson's first stint as a head coach.
``It was always a goal of mine once I started coaching,'' Robinson said of becoming a head coach. ``I had no clue it would happen this quickly, but it was always a goal. It is something that I wanted to see if I could handle.''
Robinson said departing Loris principal Trevor Strawderman, who will become the North Myrtle Beach principal next school year, was his assistant coach in high school, and Strawderman encouraged him to apply for the position left
open when previous coach Leon Johnson departed following this past season.
The Lions went 3-14 last season and missed the playoffs.
``[Derrick] has been a great addition [to the Socastee staff],'' Johnson said. ``He knows the game, he relates well with the kids. He is a good X and O man, he is a good practice guy. Derrick is going to make a very good coach. It is absolutely
our loss.''
Robinson, who will teach in the social studies department at Loris, said he prefers to run an up-tempo style.
``I have to evaluate the guys first, but I think with the athletes that I hear are around there, I think we will run an up-tempo style,'' Robinson said. ``We will try to take advantage of our size, our speed and our quickness.''
Class act! That is all I have to say.
Posted by: Jeff Gibbins | June 05, 2009 at 06:40 PM
If Myrtle Beach wanted to hire an assistant this is the guy they should have hired
Posted by: BEachfan | June 05, 2009 at 08:08 PM
no spring football coverage of teams. Bring josh back please
Posted by: druwder | June 11, 2009 at 12:49 AM
no spring football coverage of teams. Bring josh back please
Posted by: druwder | June 11, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Myrtle Beach should've hired him! Good job Loris all I will say is check his credentials in a short time he's seen a lot of good basketball. If anyone coached under a Wootten in high school basketball and he's not taken seriously the people doing the interviewing needs to be put on probation from their jobs.
Posted by: Youknowwhoitis | July 03, 2009 at 08:43 PM
The best basketball coaches in this county start with Brian Brunson at Carolina Forest and Tommy Johnson at Socastee. They might not have the best athletes but both of there teams show skill development a true sign of a program going in the right direction.
Posted by: Youknowwhoitis | July 03, 2009 at 08:48 PM