Thomasville tabs Clark as new hoops coach

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By Mike Duprez
Lexington Dispatch

THOMASVILLE - Thomasville needed a boys' basketball coach to replace a future Hall of Famer and didn't have to look too far.

Tony Clark, a teacher at Thomasville Middle School, was named the next coach of the Bulldogs on Monday.

"We decided to keep it inside," said Thomasville Athletic Director Woody Huneycutt, who is also the man Clark is replacing. "We feel like Tony is a strong disciplinarian and a very hard worker. He is a part of the Thomasville community and he'll do a good job."

Huneycutt announced his own retirement from coaching in June to concentrate on his athletic director duties.

Clark could not be reached for comment Monday night.

During his 21 years as coach, Huneycutt compiled a 429-128 record while winning five state
championships and 14 consecutive conference championships from 1995-2008.

In contrast, while Clark has been at the middle school for six years, he has not coached basketball. But Huneycutt doesn't think that's a big deal.

"He's looking forward to this and he'll come in ready to do a good job," Huneycutt said. "He's got a good program in place and he'll do fine. Whenever he has coached, he has been very successful."

Thomasville's long string of conference championships was broken by Jordan-Matthews last spring, but the Bulldogs came back to win the conference tournament.

Clark's hiring coincides with Thomasville's return to the Central Carolina Conference after a 12-year absence. The Bulldogs were moved back to the 2-A level in the latest N.C. High School Athletic Association realignment.

Thomasville's run of success over the last 15 years has been marked by an up-tempo, pressuring defensive style, a concept Huneycutt said will continue.

"Tony likes the up-tempo game, which is very popular with the kids," Huneycutt said. "He is going to continue it but he'll put his own stamp on it."