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Larry Brown has resigned as coach of the Oglethorpe County boys basketball team after three years in charge of the program. (Landen Todd/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Brown led the Patriots to the Region 5-A Division I regular-season title and a state tournament win this year. (Sarah White/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Brown drawing and teaching plays to his team during a third-quarter timeout during a scrimmage on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (Lauren Hill/The Oglethorpe Echo)
Boys basketball coach Larry Brown led Oglethorpe County to its first winning season since 2005, but he will be moving on after three years at the school.
While Brown doesn’t have a job lined up, the former Georgia basketball and football player was adamant about moving toward Atlanta, so he can be close to his family.
“He’s definitely been an asset to the school and in our program,” OCHS Principal Bill Sampson said. “He’s helped the program grow over the last three years. He had an opportunity to work with these seniors for three years and really did a lot to help them grow. We’re definitely gonna miss him and miss him as a role model for our students.”
The Patriots went undefeated in Region 5-A Division I this season, were undefeated at home and made history by winning the team’s first playoff game in school history.
Oglethorpe County also won 20 games for the first time in at least two decades and had an 11-game win streak.
“His record speaks for itself,” co-athletic director Mike Holland said. “He’s done a tremendous job with those basketball players. The state playoff appearances he’s had and getting the win last year, he’s just done a tremendous job. I hate to see him go, but I understand this is part of this business.”
Under Brown, five Patriots made the all-region team, and Javaun Pittard and Jaelin Lumpkin were selected as Region 5’s co-players of the year.
Additionally, Cole Appling was first-team all-region, Ty Burgess was selected to the second team, and Jake Turner was honorable mention. Lumpkin and Burgess were both selected to the all-defensive team.
Brown was GHSA’s Region 5-A Division I Coach of the Year.
Sampson, Holland and co-athletic director Brianna Dickens will begin the search for a new coach, a position that has already received interest.
The three are also looking to hire new coaches for basketball, golf, cross country and girls track, after head coaches Dale Blalock, Melissa McGarity and Tim Stoudenmire have decided not to coach next year.
While no longer on the sideline, Brown’s excited to see how the players he’s coached for three years grow and develop — not as a coach now, but as a fan.
“I love them like they’re my own,” Brown said. “From Day 1, I’ve treated them, I’ve loved them. I’ve been tough on them, but I would have done nothing to them that I wouldn’t have done to my own son or daughter. … Loving on them, disciplining them, and they responded like true champions. I’m gonna miss them.”