Longtime CAMB hoops coach Gore stepping down
One of the most successful high school basketball teams in the area will begin transitioning to a new head coach.
Darren Gore, who started the boys program at Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach prior to the 2007-2008 season and led the Saints to five SCISA state titles in their first seven seasons, announced Wednesday this will be his last year on the bench. He will share the head coaching duties this season with former Coastal Carolina guard and Manzer Academy founder Colin Stevens before the latter takes over the program after this coming winter.
“I had thought about it last year going into this past season,” Gore said. “I was starting to think it might be my time. It had already been on my mind. I had made some promises to some parents that I would see some kids graduate.
“I wanted to make sure it was the right person. I’m very excited about Colin coming in. … He’s good with the kids. He’s got a great heart.”
Stevens served as an assistant coach under Gore this past season, so he already has some familiarity with the returning players.
Christian Academy will be bringing back rising sophomore Michael Green, and fellow Toast of the Coast selection Justin Busby has transferred from Waccamaw.
The coming season will be the team’s third in SCISA Class AA, and the Saints will be looking to replicate some of the success they had in the organization’s lowest division prior to that. Between 2008-2014, Christian Academy were a regular in the state championships in Sumter, winning five titles in that span.
Under Gore, the Saints never had a losing season and averaged 19.9 wins per year.
“I started that program,” Gore said. “I’ve got 10 years invested in it. It’s kind of like my baby.”
Soon, it will be under Stevens’ control.
Stevens, who was not immediately available for comment, earned traction in the area’s basketball scene when he walked on at Coastal Carolina and then became one of the team’s focal points during a hectic run to end to the 2005-2006 season. The Chanticleers won 12 consecutive games with Stevens starting before falling in the Big South championship to Winthrop.
After college, he started the Manzer Basketball Academy, a training ground for many youth players looking to reach the next level.
Gore said the two will work out “some nuances” in the coming weeks. The team’s returning players were informed of the news Wednesday.
This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Longtime CAMB hoops coach Gore stepping down."