DEEP RUN — South Lenoir hopes to officially announce its newest head baseball coach soon.
School officials told The Free Press on Tuesday that a name has been submitted to the Lenoir County Public Schools central office for approval, and that the school hopes to learn of its decision by the end of the school week.
The school would not disclose the name of its potential candidate, deciding to wait on approval from the school board instead.
The Free Press received a tip late Monday evening that David Combs, a former pitcher at Mount Olive College and Lenoir Community College currently on staff at South Lenoir, will take over a program that seeks its second varsity head coach in as many seasons.
The school would not confirm or deny Combs has been given the job.
The coaching spot was left vacant earlier this month when Tim Jenkins, who led the program for one season following longtime coach Troy Eason’s retirement, suddenly resigned to take a teaching and coaching job at East Duplin.
The Blue Devils won 14 of their first 15 games and went 18-7 under Jenkins, while finishing the regular season tied with Topsail atop the East Central 2A Conference.
They lost to eventual state 2A champion Whiteville in the second round of the state playoffs.
Athletic Director Lisa Smith told The Free Press during an interview concerning Jenkins’ departure that Combs had been conducting offseason workouts in the wake of not having a head coach.
If Combs does get the job — or anyone else already on staff at South Lenoir — that still leaves a need for a head football coach, which Jenkins also formerly held.
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.