DEEP RUN — The Tim Jenkins era at South Lenoir was short lived.
The school announced on Wednesday that Jenkins, who came to Deep Run last winter via Wallace-Rose Hill to coach baseball and was later named the Blue Devils’ head varsity football coach, has resigned from his coaching and teaching positions to take a teaching and coaching job at East Duplin.
Jenkins leaves the Blue Devils after coaching their varsity baseball team to a share of the East Central 2A Conference title and their varsity football team to a 1-10 record in 2012.
Jenkins, who had said his intentions were to remain at South Lenoir for the long run, cited a conflict with the schooling of his children as his reason for returning to the school that gave him his first job in 1996.
Jenkins said his family had planned on moving their children into Lenoir County’s school district but those plans didn’t pan out.
His desire to be employed by the high school his children attended trumped his desire to be a head football or baseball coach.
“I’ve had some changes in my family over the last few months, as far as where my kids would be in school,” said Jenkins, whose children will continue to attend school in Duplin County. “I just don’t see how I can continue doing the things I need to here, for these kids, and that’s kind of the reason why.
“Nobody’s done anything. The kids haven’t done anything. Wins and losses don’t matter. … I think it’s going to be hard for me to continue being the head coach here (while) my kids are going to be in a different school district.”
Jenkins will join the staff of former Kinston and current East Duplin head football coach Battle Holley.
Jenkins and Holley coached together at Wallace-Rose Hill.
“It’s going to be a better situation for me right now, I think,” Jenkins said.
Before the football season began Jenkins had said publicly his intentions were to remain at South Lenoir until he retired or until he was let go by the school.
Even though neither of those things happened, Jenkins said that at the time of his statement those were his true plans.
“I don’t feel bad that I said it, because that was my intentions,” he said. “I had no plans; it wasn’t like I came to South Lenoir and said that I was going to be here for a year then I’m gone.
“(I) probably shouldn’t have said it, because you don’t ever know what’s going to happen. … In my heart my felt like this was where I was going to be.”
Although his time in Deep Run was short, Jenkins feels what he brought to the football program can be built upon for a successful future.
“There are some good things that can happen here, I and feel like we got started on that. I feel like we moved forward in some areas,” he said.
“The kids have worked hard and they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do. They’ll do better next year, and the next year hopefully, and moving forward.”
Jenkins’ decision to leave also leaves South Lenoir in a bind in not one coaching area but two.
With baseball season just around the corner — teams can begin holding official practices on Feb. 13 — the school is looking for its second baseball coach in as many seasons.
With Wednesday being the first day back from winter break for both students and teachers, Athletic Director Lisa Smith said there is no immediate plan for Jenkins’ replacement on the diamond.
“The first thing we’re going to look at is baseball (but) we can’t post the position right yet,” Smith said. “The boys have been working out in voluntary workouts.
“With today being the first day back and everything we’re just trying to get everything going.”
While Smith said she is saddened to see Jenkins leave, she also understands his decision.
“We understand, definitely. God comes first, then family, then work,” Smith said. “I know professionally he wants to be here, but, personally, you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself or else professionally nothing’s going to work.”
South Lenoir originally hired Jenkins to replace longtime head baseball coach Troy Eason, who retired last January following 28 years and 346 wins at the school, and he made an immediate impact.
The Blue Devils won 14 of their first 15 games, then eventually finished the East Central 2A Conference race tied for first place with Topsail before being knocked out of the state 2A playoffs in the second round by eventual state champion Whiteville.
The Free Press named Jenkins its baseball coach of the year for the 2012 season.
During baseball season Jenkins accepted the open football position, which was left vacant after four years by Kevin Wilson, who also resigned due to family matters.
In Jenkins’ only season at the program’s helm, the Blue Devils won their first game over Spring Creek, then dropped their last 10.
“I really thought this was where I was going to be. I like it here. The school is a good school. The community is pretty solid. The kids work hard,” Jenkins said. “I feel like I let (South Lenoir Principal Steve) Saint-Amand down. But, at the end of the day, regardless of what people say or think — and that doesn’t really matter to me — I’m doing what I think is best for my family, and I hope people will understand that.”
Jenkins is the third Lenoir County head football coach since 2009 to leave for East Duplin. Former North Lenoir head coach Wayne Jackson left for Beulaville following the 2008 season, then Holley followed suit in 2010 after taking the Vikings to their first regional championship game in 2009.
Holley was named East Duplin’s head coach in 2011 following longtime Panthers head coach Brian Aldridge’s retirement.
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.
SL coaching carousel
Since Jimmy Smith retired from coaching varsity football at South Lenoir following the 1996 season, the school has had seven head coaches in the sport. The sudden resignation of Tim Jenkins, who led the program for one season, has the Blue Devils looking for coach No. 12 overall after 49 seasons of South Lenoir football.
Gerald Whisenhunt — two seasons, 1997-98
Kevin Wiggins — four seasons, 1999-2002
Patrick Whitford — two seasons, 2003-04
Lee Atkins — one season, 2005
Casey Corey — two seasons, 2006-07
Kevin Wilson — four seasons, 2008-11
Tim Jenkins — one season, 2012