The high school boys basketball season ended last month, but for several programs, they’re still busy as they try to find new coaches.
One of the biggest names not returning is Ed Young at Nansemond River, but it wasn’t his choice. Other vacancies include Mark Hall, who stepped down at Cape Henry; Chris Fuhrmann, who left Nansemond-Suffolk to return to Portsmouth Christian; and Peninsula Catholic coach Trevor Dorsey, who took another position in Charlotte, APP Carolina. Also, Theotis Porter replaced James Daniel at Phoebus High after he retired.
The shocker, however, was Young, who walked into an evaluation with administrators after the season and was told his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
“When this went down, I was completely blindsided by the whole thing,” said Young, who has been at Nansemond River for 20 years, but coached 19 seasons, missing one season because of the COVID year. “I was told that I was not wanted. Now, if I felt that I was in the way or wasn’t productive, or my health was failing, I’d walk away. I can live with that. But I don’t want to quit coaching this way.”
The Pilot contacted Nansemond River High athletic director Kristy L. Brett, who said, “All media correspondences are coordinated through the Office of Community Engagement.”
Anthonette Ward-Dickens, who works for the Communications and Community Engagement Office for Suffolk Public Schools, responded with an email that read, “The decision was a personnel decision to move in a different direction. At this time, (Suffolk Public Schools) does not have any further information to provide.”
Young, who recently turned 65, is just the fourth high school boys basketball coach from Hampton Roads to win 500 games. He also is the winningest basketball coach in Suffolk history.
He began his high school coaching career at Suffolk High, where he won 10 district titles, six region crowns and advanced to three state tournaments, winning the 1987 Class A state championship.
That was followed by stops at Norview, Altoona (Pennsylvania) High and Green Run High, and he coached on the college level briefly.
Young had hoped to retire at Nansemond River, in the city where it all began. But that won’t happen.
“For the first time in years, I don’t have a team. And it hurts,” he said. “But I still want to coach. And I still have the fire and juice to coach.”
For Cape Henry’s Hall, it was time.
He had big shoes to fill when he replaced Larry Ward, but he was able to take the program to another level as he won three VISAA state titles, four Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools regular-season titles and four TCIS tournament titles.
He also put Cape Henry on the national stage when the Dolphins played nationally-ranked Huntington Prep — which featured future NBA forward Andrew Wiggins — in the 2013 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase. It was the first time a team from South Hampton Roads played on the ESPN network.
He said winning those state titles and coaching his son, Devon, were highlights.
“I have no ill will about stepping down. I’ll still be involved; I just won’t be coaching,” Hall said. “I’ll train and do summer camps, but just won’t be on the sidelines for 365 (days).”
Cape Henry athletic director Jeanne Short said she is thankful for what Hall brought to the program.
“Coach Mark Hall has done a tremendous amount for Dolphin basketball and we have been fortunate to have his leadership of the program over the past 13 years,” she said.
For Fuhrmann, he’s going back to where it all started as he and his family have close ties with Portsmouth Christian.
Fuhrmann, a 2002 Portsmouth Christian grad, was instrumental in leading the Patriots to back-to-back undefeated Metro Conference records in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 season also marked the best winning percentage in program history as the team finished 26-3, eventually losing in the VISAA state semifinals.
He returns to the school not just as a coach and teacher, but also as director of advancement.
“It means a lot because not only am I coming home, but my parents taught there for over 20 years,” said Fuhrmann, who also coached at Western Branch High and Hampton Roads Academy prior to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. “It’s a different situation than anywhere else that I’ve been. So, there’s a lot of history there. The reason why it was appealing was because of the opportunity to advance the school and make it a place to be proud of.”
For Dorsey, it was a chance to advance in his career outside of basketball. But he’ll be an assistant coach at Charlotte Country Day.
He went 136-84 in seven seasons with Peninsula Catholic and led the Knights to four consecutive state tournament appearances, including making the Final Four for the first time in program history this past season.
“My seven years as head coach at PC was nothing short of amazing,” he said. “Leaving had nothing to do with PC. I got a career opportunity in my 9-5 world that I couldn’t pass up. I was very fortunate to also land with Charlotte Country Day.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
