High school notebook: Snider’s interim tag as Loris football coach long gone

You can officially remove the “interim” label from Loris coach Jamie Snider’s title.

In fact, the school did so approximately one month ago. In Athletics Director Barry Brooks’ mind, Snider had already proved himself worthy of the full-time gig.

“I don’t think you could have had a better process for an interview,” Brooks said. “It doesn’t happen like that all the time, where your interview is your season. There were so many positives; I really think this was the only way to go.”

Snider’s roundabout way to his first head coaching job has been well-documented. After former coach Jimmy Longerbeam left for a position in Florida in July, the school had little choice but to give Snider control of the program on a temporary basis.

Brooks was already very high on the coach, especially after Snider showed up to the team’s summer weight program the day after Longerbeam’s announcement and took the reins. But the biggest impression Snider left on Brooks or anyone else was the Lions’ on-field performance.

Loris had its best season since 1988. The Lions won their first eight games of the season and earned a first-round bye in the Class AA state playoffs. The only two games Loris lost were against Dillon and state champion Timberland.

Even before the end of the season, Brooks and Principal Dick Gurley were already in contact with officials from Horry County Schools. They got the go-ahead to make Snider’s title permanent without conducting any other interviews.

Snider, though, already saw 2011 as only the beginning. He preferred the school or district not make any announcements about removing the interim tag.

“I would hope that we accomplished enough to make people believe in what we were trying to do,” Snider said.

“That whole interim thing never really concerned me. As coaches, we’re trying to help the kids grow. We were fortunate enough to have a pretty good season.”

Brooks raved about Snider’s enthusiasm on the practice field. He was also impressed with how two first-year coaches worked together from the get-go.

Basketball coach Travis Scott, who is also strength coach for the athletics programs, has given players a leg up on getting ready for next season.

Now, officially, Snider can start planning for that.

Avoiding the awkward

It was the elephant in the room that only a few wanted to talk about.

Luckily for the North Myrtle Beach boys hoops program, the former and current coaches were able to see the benefits of teaming up right away. John Trussell, the team’s coach for the last eight seasons, resigned after last year to spend more time with family and the administrative side of the game.

Frank Moorhead, who had previously served as the girls team coach before time at Coastal Carolina, was not only taking over the program. He was doing so knowing Trussell’s son, Davis, was going to be a senior on this year’s team.

The situation was bound to lead to some uncomfortable moments, right?

According to the two men, it’s been anything but.

“He’s been great,” Moorhead said of the former coach. “He’s always around [to ask questions] and always very helpful with everything.”

One of the biggest advantages to having Trussell around will be evident this week. The former coach is still in charge of the Shootout By The Sea holiday tournament that is taking place Wednesday through Friday.

“That whole transition between me and Frank has been outstanding,” John Trussell said. “He’s a great guy. I’m really glad they got him. My son has really taken to him.”

That transition could have been worse had Trussell not made his personal goals clear right away. Aside from teaching and running a driver training business on the side, Trussell’s moved away from much of his coaching responsibilities. He’s in charge of booking teams for this week’s tournament, and he’s also still heavily involved with the United States Basketball Association, including the large summer tournament in North Myrtle Beach.

Rarely, though, does he need a whistle for his current responsibilities.

“I told him,” Trussell said of his first conversation with Moorhead, “I didn’t want anything to do with between the lines.”

For more on the Shootout By The Sea tournament, read Wednesday’s edition of The Sun News.