ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 1997 TAG: 9703180043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM THE ROANOKE TIMES
Franklin County High School is seeking a boys' basketball coach, too, after Calvin Preston resigns.
Franklin County's Calvin Preston on Monday became the latest Roanoke Valley District boys' basketball coach to resign.
Preston had said a few weeks ago that he intended to return next season, but decided to leave coaching after the team banquet this past week.
``I said I was coming back because I didn't want it to hit the press,'' he said. ``I wasn't 100 percent sure. After talking with my wife and family, I felt like it was time to call it quits.''
Preston's departure completes a total turnover of boys' basketball coaches in the district that began a little more than a year ago, when Woody Deans announced his retirement at Patrick Henry. Before the month was up, William Fleming's Burrall Paye resigned in the middle of the Colonels' schedule. Cave Spring's Chris Carr stepped down after the 1995-96 season, and Pulaski County's Pat Burns announced his retirement following this past season.
Franklin County had 10 juniors on this season's team, which finished 4-17.
``One thing I took into consideration is that I left the program in better shape than when I got it,'' said Preston, who was an assistant to Franklin County's two previous head coaches, Ed Holstrom and Jimmy Thompson. He also was the girls' varsity coach at one time.
``The first I knew about [Preston's resignation] was when he handed me his letter last week,'' said Franklin County principal Benny Gibson. ``We'll open the job up and take the best of the best'' from those who apply.
Preston, 41, who has played or coached basketball at Franklin County for more than 20 years, said he was not forced out after compiling a 42-87 record in six years as head coach. He had only one winning season, when his team was 12-10 three years ago.
Preston has a daughter, Kelli, who was the second-leading scorer as a sophomore on the Franklin County girls' basketball team during the 1996-97 season. His son, Sean, played for the middle school team as a seventh-grader this year.
``I've been in basketball since I was in sixth or seventh grade, playing or coaching,'' Preston said. ``It's time to spend more time with my family. I needed to see my daughter play.''
Preston will remain at the school as a health and physical education teacher. He also will continue to coach the Franklin County boys' and girls' track teams.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Preston. color.by CNB