Three area basketball coaches announce resignation

There will be several new basketball coaches in the area next winter. 

Laney athletic director Fred Lynch announced on Twitter that both Eric Davis and Ashley Jones resigned Thursday. On Wednesday, North Brunswick boys coach Jeff Johnson told his players he would not be returning.

Davis was named Laney’s boys coach on April 27, 2017 after a successful seven-year run at West Brunswick. 

In five seasons, Davis had a record of 81-35 with the Buccaneers.

The 2018-19 season featured some monumental moments. Laney snapped a 39-game losing streak to New Hanover with a 50-47 victory at Brogden Hall on January 5. 

A few weeks later, Davis earned his 300th career victory at home against West Brunswick. The team also went on to claim the Mideastern Conference Tournament title for the first time since 2000.

Prior to his arrival at West Brunswick, Davis coached for nine years at Hopewell. His overall record between the three programs is 354-185.

“I feel like we’ve turned this program around and done some really good things in the last five years,” Davis said. “I hope they will bring in someone that will continue to do that and have even more success and take them to another level.”

Jones took over for legendary Laney girls coach Sherri Tynes in the summer of 2016 and carried on the success.

In her second season, Jones guided the Buccaneers to a 28-3 record and a berth in the 4A East final. The team went 28-2 the following season before again falling to powerhouse Southeast Raleigh in the third round of the playoffs. 

Jones finished her six-year career at Laney with a record of 117-37.

“It’s definitely not a decision I’ve made within the last two weeks,” Jones said. “Ultimately, it was what I felt was best for me and my family.

“This has been a dream job in a lot of ways. It’s an outstanding place to work and it’s been a place of tremendous growth for me, as a coach especially.”

Davis and Jones are both hoping to remain on staff at Laney, but no final decisions have been made.

Johnson took over as the interim boys coach at North Brunswick in December 2019 after Alvin Thompson stepped down due to health problems. 

The Scorpions finished 5-19 that season and 1-5 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Things turned around this year as Johnson guided the team to a 10-13 overall record and a 5-9 mark in Mideastern Conference play.

It was the most victories for the program since going 12-16 as a 2A school during the 2015-16 season.