Trinity High School will have a new girls basketball coach for the 2010-2011 season.

Renee Hayes, who teaches language arts at Archdale-Trinity Middle School and coached the THS team for the past 17 years learned of the decision in April. Her farewell letter is on page 4.

Principal Denise Lackey explained the staff change. “I felt as if I need our head coaches on campus, relating to kids, seeing them everyday.”

She felt that an on-campus coach would not only develop rapport with student athletes, but with more students, which would help recruit for athletics.

Lackey said it was unfortunate that in the day between making a decision and ensuring the new coach would accept the offer, Hayes heard about the change through other sources.

“I’ve got nothing against (Hayes’) record, nothing against her coaching, nothing against her personally.” Lackey added that if she’d had a teaching position for Hayes at THS, she would like to have hired her.

Shannon Edwards, who started work as Trinity’s career development coordinator this year, will step in as coach. He has a background in both football and basketball. Edwards said that Hayes has been helping him with the transition.

He told the High Point Enterprise, “She’s a state champion, a winner – big shoes to fill. Humongous shoes to fill. I’m just excited and ready to see what we can do.”

Renee Hayes says farewell to the community under letters - opinion, or on page 4 of the e-edition.