Whitwell’s Zensen ends successful run as coach
Eric Zensen knew from an early age he wanted to become a head coach one day.
Little did he know he would eventually lead the Whitwell High School girls’ basketball program to 316 wins in a 17-year span, which included eight seasons with 20 or more wins.
After that great run, though, Zensen is ready to step away from coaching to spend more time with family.
“The greatest role model for me growing up was my dad,” said Zensen, who led the Lady Tigers to three region championships and five district titles. “My dad (Sandy) was the head men’s soccer coach at Bryan (College) and always had success there. Watching the impact he had on his players’ lives and his success motivated me to want to do the same thing.”
Zensen’s passion for basketball was passed down to his daughters Maddie and Courtney, who combined to score 3,050 points while playing for the Lady Tigers and their dad. Maddie graduated in 2021. Courtney, the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,093 points, was a senior this past season and is moving on to play at Union University.
“When I took the job at Whitwell, one of the biggest things I was looking for was a place where I could bring my girls and stay,” Zensen said. “I wanted a great place to raise my family and kids where they would fit into a tight-knit community.
“I tried to enjoy every second of the journey and really try to soak it in. To have been their coach and even teacher a few times in school was really unique and something not many parents get to experience. Time goes by so quick. It has been blinding fast.”
In his 17 years, Whitwell had 13 winning seasons and missed the region tournament just once. This past winter, the Lady Tigers went 23-13 overall and lost 51-48 to Pickett County in the sectional round — one win short of reaching the TSSAA Class 1A state tournament — despite never having more than eight players on the roster the entire season.
“From day one, all the girls I have coached have always had a great attitude and willingness to learn and push themselves to get better,” Zensen said. “We have had great kids at our school and very competitive girls who are willing to work really hard to achieve goals, especially in athletics. I always pushed them hard but at the same time loved them to death.”
Now the former Bryan basketball player is looking forward to spending lots of free time with his daughters.
“It doesn’t feel like it has been 17 years until you look back and you have former players that have families of their own,” Zensen said. “Both of my assistants, Shea Layne and Kelsey Mainord, who have helped me for eight years, have families of their own. I am extremely grateful that Whitwell took a chance on me back in 2006.”
Former Bruins coach is new AD for Dalton High
Ryan Richards is succeeding Jeff McKinney as the athletic director at Dalton High School after the school board approved his hiring.
Richards resigned his coaching and teaching positions at Northwest Whitfield, where he was the boys’ basketball coach for 20 years. Ten of his teams reached the playoffs, two of those as region champions. The Bruins, despite replacing the players responsible for 80% of their scoring from the previous season’s 23-5 team, won 16 games this past season and reached the playoffs.
Richards posted a letter on Twitter after announcing his resignation at Northwest, saying, among other things: “We started over 20 years ago with a four-win season and built our team in region championships and school records. It has been a blessing to get to coach so many great young men. There have been challenges along the way, but the blessings have outweighed the challenges.”
Richards has a doctoral degree in professional practices and leadership from Travecca Nazarene, one of the reasons the Dalton administration offered him the AD job after McKinney announced he was taking another position with Dalton Public Schools.
“I am excited to have Dr. Richards join our Catamount family,” Dalton principal Stephanie Hungerpiller said in a news release. “He has been a coach, teacher, and mentor to many young people in our community. His enthusiasm for athletics as well as his commitment to developing character and grit in our student-athletes makes him the perfect choice to lead Catamount athletics.”
“From day one, all the girls I have coached have always had a great attitude and willingness to learn and push themselves to get better.”
— ERIC ZENSEN
Southeast Whitfield’s Rich picks Dalton State
Southeast Whitfield senior basketball player Cal Rich signed scholarship papers to continue his athletic and academic careers at Dalton State College in a ceremony Thursday.
The 6-foot-7 Rich was a four-year starter for the Raiders, leading the team in scoring each season. He averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds this past season and 21 and nine as a junior.
Southeast went from a winless team in Rich’s freshman season to 12 victories and a state playoff berth this past season.