ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
A FORMER TIMESLAND coach returns to take over the boys' basketball team.
Kelvin Jackson will be the new boys' basketball coach at Bassett High School subject to approval of the Henry County School Board.
Jackson was unavailable for comment and Henry County school officials said only that the new coach would be appointed this week. Bassett's principal would not comment, saying only that he hoped a new coach would be named at the school board meeting this week.
But two sources said Jackson is Bassett's choice, speaking only on the assurance they could remain anonymous.
Jackson has been the football and girls' basketball coach at Eau Claire High School in Columbia, S.C., since he left Timesland in 1992 following a long career as an assistant at old Drewry Mason High School and Magna Vista.
At Drewry Mason, he was assistant football coach to Don Bateman and moved with the staff when Magna Vista opened in the 1988-89 school year. He was a junior varsity basketball coach at Magna Vista as well as a football assistant.
Jackson follows Bobby Martin, whose contract as boys' basketball coach was not renewed at the end of last season after four years. Martin was given no reason for his dismissal, but he was told he could remain as an assistant football coach and head track coach.
Martin, whose teams were 36-48 overall but 22-18 the past two seasons, protested his ouster to no avail.
Martin has been seeking other basketball positions in the area. He interviewed for the William Fleming job in Roanoke that will be filled by Roland Lovelace and he remains one of the top candidates to get the job at McMichael School in North Carolina.
Former Timesland coach Stan Clark, whose teams won two Group A titles at George Washington-Carver, was thought to be a top candidate at Bassett but withdrew from the job, according to sources.
Jackson will take over a Bassett program that moves with the Piedmont District into Region IV next year. The Piedmont District comprises four Henry County schools - Laurel Park, Bassett, Magna Vista and Fieldale-Collinsville - plus Martinsville and Patrick County.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB