Sports - May 2003

Bolick retires as East baseball coach; school names new AD

Published May 26, 2003

JV coach Neville moves up to varsity

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, LTN Staff Writer

DENVER — East Lincoln High School Interim athletic director Tony Worley announced major changes in personnel in a news conference today.

Worley will step down as athletic director and will move to North Lincoln High School as an assistant principal.

Neil Hodges, current East Lincoln boys basketball coach, will assume the duties of permanent athletic director.

Perhaps the most surprising move came when Bruce Bolick announced his retirement after serving as the Mustangs’ baseball coach for 33 years. Bolick’s team finished the year and his career on a high note with an 18-7 record.

Bolick reached a career milestone this spring when he picked up his 400th coaching victory.

Bolick’s replacement will be former JV coach Matt Neville. Neville took a team that finished last in its conference in 2002 and produced a winning season.

Neville’s JV team compiled a 7-2 record in the Big South 3A and tied North Gaston for the league title.

Bolick started as a teacher at East Lincoln in 1970 and spent his entire career there.

He served as athletic director at the school for many years, retiring from that job and the school system in 2001. He continued to coach the Mustang baseball team for two more seasons.

 “I thought about retiring two years ago, but I felt like I still enjoyed baseball and I wanted to see this senior class through to the end,”
 Bolick said this morning.

With the surprising Mustangs making a strong run at the playoffs this season, Bolick ended on a strong note.

“It was a real pleasing season. This is one of the most overachieving teams I have had,” Bolick said.

During his long stint at East Lincoln, he also served as varsity football coach from 1972-85.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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