Laurinburg Names New Coach

It didn't take Laurinburg long to find a replacement for Chris Chaney. The North Carolina school has hired a former player to take the reigns.

Laurinburg Academy has hired one of its own to replace Chris Chaney.

The North Carolina prep school, which rose to prominence after Chaney took over four years ago, announced that former Laurinburg player Billy Reid will take over the highly regarded prep basketball program.

``We’re very excited about it,” Laurinburg president/CEO Frank McDuffy. “I’ve known Billy for some time and he’s a high-character guy. We don’t think we’ll lose a beat.”

Reid, 47, graduated from Laurinburg in 1974 and went onto play with the Golden State Warriors and also play and coach in France for 13 years. Reid also enjoyed coaching stints at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco, URI and Stony Brook.

``This is kind of like coming back home,” Reid said. “It all started here for me.”

``It’s a great opportunity to follow up what Chris Chaney did here,” he added. “It’s going to be hard, but it’s a challenge – and I’m used to challenges.”

Chaney, who recently took the job at Patterson School (N.C.), won a pair of championships in his four seasons at Laurinburg and led the team to a 40-0 mark last season.

``I’m ecstatic that a person of Coach Reid’s credentials is going to take over the program,” Chaney said. “He’ll make sure it stays in the right direction and Laurinburg is very fortunate to have him.”