ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 9, 1996 TAG: 9603120028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
HUNTER HOGGATT, Timesland's leading scorer, may transfer for the second time in his high school career.
The coach who turned around Staunton River's basketball program has resigned and there is indication the school's top player, Hunter Hoggatt, may not finish his career with the Golden Eagles.
Eddie Carter, 46, who won more games than any other basketball coach at Staunton River, has given principal Jim Phares his verbal resignation after running the program for eight years. Carter followed Phares as the basketball coach of the Moneta school.
Phares has named Carter's assistant coach, Steve Farquhar, as the new head coach. Farquhar played at Liberty University.
Hoggatt, a junior who led Timesland in scoring with a 28.1 points per game average, is looking into switching to a private school for his senior season. If Hoggatt leaves, it will be the second time he has switched schools during his high school career. He transferred from Altavista to Staunton River two years ago.
Carter's resignation came as a surprise. His overall record is 79-86, but he took over a team that had gone 12-50 in the three previous seasons. His first team was 8-13 and he had four winning seasons. This year, the Golden Eagles went 9-12, but finished the regular season with four victories in their last six games.
Staunton River never has been an easy place for any coach to win. Bill Leatherman, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this year at Bridgewater College, had a 56-112 record while heading the Golden Eagles' program.
``I came to the conclusion that I had done everything I could do for Staunton River High School,'' said Carter. ``I had taken them as far as I could take them, reached a dead end and it was time for me to step down.
``I'm proud of the accomplishments we've had. It's time for me to see if there are some other challenges for me to tackle.''
Phares said Carter had done good things as the Staunton River coach.
``We sat down a week ago and started talking about the direction of the program,'' said Phares. ``A lot of people don't know how much hard work Eddie has put into the program. I thought at the end of the year, we had had a good season.''
Asked if the resignation was forced, Phares said, ``As far as it's being forced, that's an internal matter. I won't comment.
``We talked about several things at the meeting, about Eddie's future plans. My main concern is for the entire school program, and basketball is an integral part of the program, as is the head basketball coach. Eddie has sought to change his personal direction and coach closer to home [where he lives in Amherst County]. He said he wanted until May 1 [to make a decision] and I said I wanted a different time line.''
Phares said he had hoped Carter would take three weeks to think about the situation. ``I found out when I got out of coaching, I had opportunities to do a whole lot of other things,'' said Phares, who immediately began work to get the courses leading to being a high school administrator.
Hoggatt's loss would take away the principal scorer and a three-time All-Seminole District player from the Golden Eagles. Hoggatt came from Altavista when that school fired long-time coach Stu Richardson, who now heads up the Varina program in Richmond.
Terry Hoggatt, principal at Staunton River Middle School, said his son's possible transfer had nothing to do with the situation involving Carter, but that this had been on his mind before the resignation.
``One of Hunter's goals is to play college basketball at the highest level he can play,'' said Terry. ``We, as his parents, are going to help him reach these goals. So we had planned to look at the options. Eddie was aware of this.''
One rumor had Hunter rejoining Richardson at Varina, but Terry said it is more likely his son will wind up playing at a private school. The family has no plans of moving to another school zone.
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