Greenbrier names Black's successor

Garrett Black said the critics didn't emerge until about four years ago, when his Greenbrier High School girls basketball teams started winning.

//

He won't have to deal with them much longer. Greenbrier's athletic director passed the reins to Dana Bull on Wednesday, stepping down after eight years and a 165-61 record.

"I think we competed very well at the state level," Black said. "I really do."

Bull takes over a team that will compete as a Class AAAAA school for the first time next season.

The film of past seasons' games against the likes of Statesboro and Richmond Academy won't be worth much. Couple the new classification with the graduation of some of the team's key members, and Bull said it almost feels as though she's starting from scratch -- not that she plans to use that as an excuse.

"Garrett built a great tradition of winning," Bull said. "I hope to carry that tradition along."

Black, whose team lost Feb. 23 in the first round of the Class AAAA state playoffs, announced the hiring to his team first.

The decision to leave ultimately came down to Black's wanting to spend more time with his family, but he will remain as athletic director and softball coach.

He didn't rule out a return to coaching basketball.

"I may get back in one day," Black said. "I just need to get away from it right now."

Black's teams were characterized by a harassing, full-court defense and converting turnovers into quick points. Bull, who was most recently Greenbrier's junior varsity volleyball coach, wants to also establish a strong, half-court defense.

"Defense will win you games," she said. "The offense will come."

The points often came in bunches for Black's teams, which saw a streak of 49 regular-season wins end with a loss to Statesboro on Jan. 29. The Wolfpack dropped three of their final four games, including the Feb. 23 playoff loss.

"I'm still trying to get over the loss," Black said. "Part of me feels like we should still be playing."