Bandys graduate has taught, coached with Knights since 2016
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
LINCOLNTON – Jacob London, a teacher and coach at North Lincoln High since 2016, is returning to coaching basketball by guiding the Knights’ varsity girls this season.
On Tuesday, North Lincoln athletic director Dennis Frye confirmed London is replacing Brad Mangum, who left the Knights after last season to work in private business. Mangum is also back in coaching as an assistant varsity boys’ coach at Maiden.
LONDON
THE KNIGHTS’ LEADERS
A look at the head varsity girls’ basketball coaches at North Lincoln — where Jacob London is taking over – from the 2005-2006 school year through last season. They are listed in the order they held the job:
Coach Years
Mark Lackey 3
David Johnson 2
Lynn Rhyne 3
Tremayne Booker 1
Neill Tapp 3
Mark Lackey 2
David Johnson 1
Brad Mangum 2
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com files and research
North Lincoln’s girls were 4-20 overall last season –finishing seventh in the Western Foothills 3A (2-12) – and they were 3-11 two years ago in COVID-hampered season.
Last season, North Lincoln started 0-9 before winning twice (Lincolnton, East Gaston) in the Peoples Bank Holiday Classic. The other two wins were over winless West Iredell (0-24) in league play.
London steps in to coach a program that has missed the state playoffs nine straight seasons. The Knights have had one winning season (2018-2019) in their last nine.
A graduate of Bandys, London teaches biology at North Lincoln, which opened in 2003. He has been the school’s junior varsity softball head coach and a varsity softball assistant.
He also coached the JV girls basketball team for three seasons and was a varsity assistant in 2019-2020.
“When I heard the position was opening back up this past spring, I had a desire to return after missing coaching basketball for the past few years,” Jordan said via e-mail to HobbsDailyReport.com. ‘I’m really excited about the group of girls that we have coming back this season, with a mix of experience and youth.
“I helped coach the rising seniors (Julia Frantz, Ayanna Gaddy and Aubrie Cada) during their freshman year, and it’s exciting to see the growth they’ve made the past two years under Coach Mangum.
“I’m excited about the youth we have in the program and that is coming up the pipeline as well.
“We’ve had some very productive workouts so far this summer and the girls have been very receptive to what we’re trying to accomplish.”
