HobbsDailyReport.com
TAYLORSVILLE – Alexander Central High has a new head coach for boys’ tennis and for girls’ soccer.
School officials have announced Cam Gant will guide the boys’ tennis team and Ashley Bumgarner will lead the girls’ soccer team.
Gant is in his third year as a health and physical education teacher at Alexander Central. He’ll continue to also be head coach of the Cougars’ junior varsity boys’ basketball team and work as an assistant coach on head coach Ed Wills’ varsity boys’ basketball staff.
BUMGARNER
Gant replaces Donny Pennell, who coached Alexander Central to a 13-2 overall record and 6-1 record in the Northwestern 3A-4A. The Cougars were eliminated in the first round of the state 3A dual-team playoffs by Marvin Ridge.
“I am excited to see Coach Gant take over our tennis program and feel confident he will do a great job leading those young student-athletes,” athletic director Nathan Robinson said in a press release. “Cam has been dedicated to our school and athletic department since he graduated from ACHS and has helped coach basketball since 2014.”
Bumgarner is an English teacher at Alexander Early College who has coached soccer for the past six years for Alexander County Parks and Recreation. He was an assistant coach last season at West Alexander Middle School.
Bumgarner replaces Johnnie Gailes, who last season guided the Cougars to a 10-7-2 overall record and fourth place finish in the Northwestern 3A-4A at 6-6-2. South Iredell eliminated Alexander in the first round of the state 3A playoffs.
“Ashley is very energetic and I feel that he will do a wonderful job of being able to teach the game of soccer to our ladies,” Robinson said in the press release. “I am also glad that with his hiring, he will help us continue to keep the Alexander Early College students involved with our athletic department.”