GRAHAM HALEY STEPS DOWN AS GIRLS BBALL COACH

Citing a desire to focus his energies on the entire athletic program, First Baptist girls basketball coach Graham Haley has stepped down while choosing to focus more on his duties as the school’s athletic director. Haley spent six seasons as girls head coach, inheriting a program that won five total games in the two seasons prior to his arrival. The coach had only one losing season, his first, and finished with 88 career wins. This past season, First Baptist advanced to the SICSA AAA state final, where it lost to Northwood Academy. Haley became the school’s athletic director last fall, replacing Jeff Whittle. “This is a good, positive step for my career as an administrator,” said Haley. “I have goals in administration and this move helps me greatly in those goals. I love coaching and I know I will miss it but this is the best thing for me. "I am excited about the potential of our athletic program at First Baptist and now I can really focus on making it good for all sports. My goal is to bring a commitment to all sports and help us compete for championships in every sport. Our kids deserve that opportunity.” Presley Singleton, a 17-year coaching veteran, will replace Haley as head coach. Singleton led Northwood to consecutive state titles in 2015 and 2016 before leaving the school last August. She came to First Baptist as an assistant athletic director, looking to gain experience and knowledge in administration as well. “I honestly had never thought about it (becoming head coach) because Graham was here and doing a fantastic job,” said Singleton, whose son Joseph Powell is a sophomore basketball player at First Baptist. "My move here was a chance to get more involved in athletic administration. I missed coaching but I really enjoyed what I was doing here. I didn’t automatically jump in and say yes when Graham talked to me about it but I am grateful for the opportunity to build on what he established here.”

GRAHAM HALEY STEPS DOWN AS GIRLS BBALL COACH

Photo Credit: FBS Athletics

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