By Thomas Grant Jr.
After resigning from Denmark-Olar after seven successful seasons, girls’ basketball coach Terance Jones announced plans “to do the unthinkable.”
A month later, he’s looking to finalize those plans with Lexington/Richland School District Five to become the new girls’ basketball coach at Chapin High School.
He would take over the Class 5A Division II program that went 13-15 last season and won its first playoff game since 2014. With the Lady Vikings, he won 127 games and led them to three straight Class A runners-up.
“My decision was a tough one to decide, but I felt like it was the right time to move on,” he said. “It was a very difficult decision to make with all the success that I had at Denmark but I honestly was ready for a fresh start and Chapin gave me a great opportunity to lead their program to turn things around.”
Jones understands the challenge of competing in Region 4-5A. The region produced five playoff teams that won at least one game in the post-season.
At the same time, Jones likes the pool of rising talent in the program. He also spoke highly of returning players like All-Region rising senior Reagan Haggard.
“Reagan Haggard is a very solid player and she’s one of the best two was players in the state and also the region,” he said. “Maryann Woods is a young upcoming star will a very high ceiling. Atyria Douglas is a young solid post player with huge upside and Sammie Stephenson provides size and physicality inside. So I think we have the talent to compete>
Jones will measure success next season based on how his team competes for 32 minutes. He wants the Lady Eagles to play with a more physical approach and aspires to finish in the Top 3 of the region.
More important, Jones hopes to galvanize the love and support from the Chapin community.
“I think we have a chance to really shock some people and be considered as one of the top teams in our region,” he said.
District Five is also working to fill the girls’ basketball coaching vacancy at Irmo High School.
(Photo courtesy of Terence Jones)
