HobbsDailyReport.com
CLONINGER
Lincolnton High has a new boys’ varsity basketball head coach, and East Lincoln has a new boys’ varsity soccer head coach, a report by The Gaston Gazette (http://www.gastongazette.com/) says.
The newspaper report said John Cloninger will lead Lincolnton’s boys, and Billy Howell will guide the Mustangs in soccer.
Cloninger is a 1984 graduate of Lincolnton who spent 16 seasons as assistant coach for the Wolves in basketball under Bob Cowie, The Gazette reported. Cowie resigned after last season, leaving the Wolves after 20 years and 317 victories.
HOWELL
Cloninger is a dentist and will be a non-faculty coach at Lincolnton, the story said.
Lincolnton finished 21-6 last season and second in the South Fork 2A (11-3) and was a West No. 11 seed into the state 2A playoffs. Maiden beat the Wolves 57-52 in the first round.
Cloninger becomes just the fourth boys’ varsity basketball head coach at Lincolnton since the 1991-92 season. Lavell Hall coached the Wolves for three seasons and Cowie took over in 1998-99 after Jon Hancock coached for four seasons.
Howell is a 2003 East Lincoln graduate who has coaching experience in middle schools and high schools. He’ll replace Jason Dragoon, with whom he worked the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the boys’ varsity team.
The East Lincoln boys were 14-9 last season and reached the postseason for the 12th time in 13 years.