Joey Bryson has been hired as the new boys basketball coach at West Henderson.
WEAVERVILLE – Joey Bryson was packing up his office Friday at North Buncombe with mixed emotions.
Even though leaving for a new job is “extremely bittersweet,” Bryson said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to coach his old high school.
West Henderson has hired away the 1995 Falcons graduate to take over its boys basketball program.
Bryson had been the Black Hawks’ coach for five seasons and compiled a 76-45 record during that time with back-to-back Mountain Athletic Conference 3-A regular-season championships. He was named the Citizen-Times All-WNC Coach of the Year following the 2014-15 season in which North Buncombe tied a school record for wins (22).
“These have been five of the best years of my life,” Bryson said.
“I’ve made some incredible relationships and the community has been great. But it’s like I told my players here (at North Buncombe), sometimes change comes when you least expect it. I’ve always had this in the back of my mind. Not everyone gets to go home. I’m ready to restore some tradition over at West Henderson. I’m ready to get to work.”
North Buncombe and West Henderson last met Feb. 23 in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs with the Black Hawks (19-6) taking a 63-56 win over the Falcons (11-13) in Weaverville. The next NCHSAA realignment will put the two in the same conference starting with the 2017-18 school year.
“The kids over there aren’t a lot different than the ones we have at North Buncombe,” Bryson said.
“They’re hard-working and willing to learn. I know I’m going to get their best. There is a great administration there and they have a great direction for the program laid out.”
Bryson replaces Billy Phillips, whose resignation was announced last week after he went 44-75 in five seasons.
Bryson is easily one of the greatest players in Henderson County history.
The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 26.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds as a high school senior and set a school record for career scoring (1,782 points). Bryson then continued his career at Western Carolina University.
North Buncombe was 6-14 and 9-15 in Bryson’s first two seasons as coach, respectively, then won 20, 22 and 19 games the last three.
“We hate to lose Joey, but West Henderson is home for him and he’s a hero there,” Black Hawks athletic director Barry Owens said.
“He’s a good coach with a passion for the game.”
Owens said that North Buncombe will begin the search for a new coach immediately. Applicants may contact Owens at barry.owens@bcsemail.org.
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