Elmore, Harrell excited about head coaching debuts

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on November 19, 2014 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

aetzler@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- After the varsity boys' and girls' basketball coaches each departed last winter, Charles B. Aycock athletics director Charles Davis looked for some stability.

He found what he needed on campus.

David Elmore, a CBA alum who always wanted to coach at his alma mater, made his varsity boys debut against South Johnston on Tuesday evening. Just two hours earlier, Roy Harrell put his first-ever varsity girls team on the hardwood.

"It's an exciting opportunity," said Elmore, a 2006 alum. "It's my first major head coaching job. I went to school here, I played here so I have a lot of pride in this. I'm really excited for that reason.

"I went to college and that was the furthest I've been away, and I came right back when I graduated. I'm not going anywhere."

Elmore served as an assistant coach to David West, Steve Moats and Tod Morgan during the last six seasons. He inherited the boys' golf program from former coach Sheila Covar and is currently an assistant for varsity football.

"Dave has paid his dues," Davis said. "We all agreed that it was time for him to get a major head coaching job and that he was the right guy for this position."

Aycock is expected to put an inexperience team on the court after losing four seniors, including Mike Williams, who is now at Pitt Community College. Elmore isn't concerned about the losses because of the personnel he has this season.

"I know there will be some new pieces and all that, but for the most part I know what will be there," he said. "Experience is lacking but that doesn't mean we're not going to pick up where we left off."

Eight players participated in varsity football.

"I'm a big proponent of my kids playing multiple sports," Elmore said. "I'd love for my basketball guys to play football because it makes you not only physically tougher, but also mentally tougher."

Harrell served in the Army Reserves before taking over at E.E. Smith Middle School to start his career in education. Even as a Duplin County native, he has ties to Aycock. His wife was the school's valedictorian in 1985.

He plans on retiring at CBA, which will allow his son, Nolan, to spend all four years in the Golden Falcons' athletic program.

"The tradition here is phenomenal," Harrell said. "It's the biggest school in the county and there's a reason it's got the largest enrollment in the county. I'm tickled to death to be a part of it."

The girls' team may not start a single senior this year and will still likely be more experienced than the boys team. After starting all freshmen and sophomores last season, those five players grew together and gained on-court experience.

Harrell, also a member of the football staff, is trying to instill the same values in his girls as far as playing multiple sports.

"I've don't like that specialization thing. You don't know where your talent might go," Harrell said.