New Chapel Hill High School women’s basketball coach, John French is taking over the basket-
ball program after Sherry Norris had been in charge for 40 years.
French is looking to have more influence on the flow of the game than his predecessor. “I want to dictate tempo and to control the games,” French said.
Junior Holly Heizer commented on the differences in coaching between John French and Sherry Norris. “They are incomparable,” Heizer said. “They both have different teaching styles and coach French emphasizes a lot more fitness.”
He had been Norris’ assistant coach since 2010. French experienced a lot of success in this timespan. “In that time, we won more games than any team in school history. We played for three consecutive state championships,” French said.
Despite recent tough years, French’s main objective is to revitalize Chapel Hill High School women’s basketball success. “When she retired last year, I kind of stepped in to continue her legacy. I want to compete for championships and I want the program to be consistent every year,” French said.
French is trying to get the Tiger program back on track by using his style of basketball. “We try to control tempo with the press and with our fast breaks. We haven’t been very good with the press so far, but it will come,” French said.
Sophomore Ceci Calhoun shares a bright view of the future with her coach. “The Chapel Hill High School basketball team will definitely get better in the coming years. There is a lot of young talent on our team as it is and a lot more coming in the next few years,” Calhoun said.
Prior to joining the Tigers, French coached basketball and football at middle schools in Carrboro-Chapel Hill. He was the assistant coach at River Mill High School and Mount Zion Christian Academy. NBA stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Tracy McGrady played at Mount Zion under French.
