Edwards steps down after ‘a great run’ at Olentangy
Following a season in which he guided the Olentangy girls basketball team to Occ-cardinal and Division I district titles, Jamie Edwards has stepped down as coach.
Edwards, 49, has twin daughters, Kambry and Karsyn, who play college basketball at Lourdes. He coached both girls during a previous seven-year stint at Cardington.
“We had a great run in my (two seasons) as the head coach for Olentangy,” Edwards said. “It’s time to devote all my time to family and teaching, and I’ll be able to attend my twin daughters’ college basketball games now. That is a plus.”
Edwards, a sixth-grade math teacher at Olentangy Shanahan Middle School, led Olentangy (24-2, 10-0 Occ-cardinal) to its first district title since 1998. The Braves lost to Watterson 47-44 in a regional semifinal.
Edwards was an assistant coach at Olentangy for four years before taking over at Cardington in 2015, guiding the
Pirates to a 148-22 mark. He has a career record of 186-34 in nine seasons.
Olentangy went 14-10 overall and 5-5 in the Occ-cardinal in Edwards’ first season before making a big leap this winter.
“Being the coach at Olentangy was my dream job,” he said. “Whoever comes in to take over is inheriting a gold mine. The cupboards are completely full for many years.”
Olentangy was led this season by sophomore guard Whitney Stafford and freshman forward Sydney Mobley. Both were first-team all-state, all-district and all-league.
“Coach Edwards brought so much to this program,” Stafford said. “He took a chance on Olentangy and came out of (coaching) retirement to help lead and guide this program to a conference championship and district championship. I’ve known coach for a while now and I appreciate everything he has done for me as a player and for this program as a whole. I hope all the best for him and his family.”