Allmon leaves East Davidson

By Jason Queen
Lexington Dispatch

LEXINGTON - Under Terry Allmon, East Davidson's girls basketball team became more like an extended family.

This week, the leader of the family said goodbye.

Allmon informed East athletic director Danny Palmer on Tuesday that he has accepted an offer to coach the girls' basketball team at Southwestern Randolph. The announcement officially closes the door on a remarkable run for the Golden Eagles' program.

"I tell you what, it's not easy," Allmon said Wednesday. "I love the East Davidson area, the faculty, and the girls.

"I just think this is the right time to do it. I've been driving about 25 miles to get to work every day, and now I'll be driving three."

Allmon has certainly taken the Eagles on an amazing ride the past four years. Led by Anna Freeman, Elizabeth Merritt and Alyssa Cutshaw-all of whom will play college basketball next year - East won its 2-A sectional each year and won the state title last season. This year's quest for a repeat was thwarted in the regional final by Central Carolina Conference rival Salisbury. All told, the Eagles won over 100 games in that four-year span.

Palmer was certainly disappointed to lose Allmon. "Terry is just as good a person as he is a basketball coach, maybe even better," Palmer said. "He has taken the basketball team to the elite part of the state playoffs the last four years.

"The things he has done as a coach are unbelievable. And at the same time, he's just as good in the community; people can't say enough about what he's done with their children. We wish him all the luck in the world."

He may need a little luck to duplicate what his teams were able to accomplish at East. But with a gentle demeanor and extensive knowledge of the game, Allmon is seemingly destined for success no matter where he goes.

"The people of Davidson County have been so good to me, and I really do appreciate it," he added. "It is an extended family. (East principal Cathi) Mrs. Smith has been great, and coach Palmer and coach (Bryan) Lingerfelt, anything I've ever asked for, they've given me."

Which made leaving extremely difficult.

"I was torn with the decision for a long time," he said. "I finally decided Sunday night or early Monday morning. I just had to let them (Southwestern) know."

Now the search begins for a new coach at East. And Palmer doesn't think a decision will be possible right away. "With the state cuts in the budget, we won't know for a couple of weeks what jobs we'll have available," he explained. "Our JV basketball coach, Brian Eddinger, has been with the program six or seven years. He's going to continue to take the girls to camps and everything they had planned."