Greenfield hires Lake County's Hunter Whitby as boys basketball coach
When looking for a new boys basketball coach, Greenfield didn't have to leave District 13-A to find one.
Greenfield has named former Lake County boys basketball coach Hunter Whitby as the new boys coach.
"I live in Dyer, so Lake County is a little haul, and we are about to have our first kid in December," Whitby said. "Family played a big role in the decision. I worked in Greenfield previously through Dynamix, so I know the community. So this is going to be an easy transition, and being near to home with a newborn is important."
Whitby replaces Chad Levister, who resigned to take the position as girls basketball coach at Obion County in May. Whitby will be the head coach for the high school and middle school boys teams and an assistant girls basketball coach.
Greenfield went 15-18 last season, finishing third in District 13-A and reaching the Region 7-A quarterfinals before losing to Class A runner-up Humboldt.
Four starters from last year's team have graduated.
"He has had the district MVP the past two years, and I am just going to go in and build on the foundation that Coach Levister left," Whitby said. "I am going to go in and see what we have as soon as dead period ends with some evaluations."
All TSSAA schools are in a dead period until July 8, meaning coaches can't have contact with players during this time.
Whitby will have a meeting with the returning players after the dead period ends and go from there.
"I evaluate who I have, and I adjust my coaching style to what the skill level (is) and who we have," Whitby said. "I don't intend to throw a lot of new stuff at them."
Whitby was the coach at Lake County last season as the Falcons went 14-13, losing to South Fulton in the District 13-A quarterfinals by two points.
"It was a hard decision," Whitby said. "Not because of wins and losses but because of the relationship that you build with the kids, being a coach and mentor to them. It was especially hard with the juniors and seniors that I have been with. I believe I left them in a good position."
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.
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