Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia has announced that Coach Dion Bethea has resigned his position as Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, effective May 31.  Coach Bethea will announce his future plans at a later date.  A search will begin immediately for his replacement.

During his past ten years at Gray, Bethea led the team to a combined six state championships and nine region titles.  Gray has had five AA Players of the Year, and countless athletes have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

Coach Bethea states, “My gratitude goes to our Principal, Dr. Newsome, and GCA for their decade-long investment in our program. Their steadfast support has been instrumental in making the Gray Collegiate Academy Basketball program one of the premier Boys’ Basketball programs in the country. I’ve dedicated myself to GCA, nurturing our young boys into men and urging them to pursue excellence over mediocrity. After much prayer, I’ve decided it’s time to advance and continue to invest in myself for whatever God has in store. I extend my thanks to my wife and children for their love and unwavering support to both current and former players, their parents, and my incredible coaching staff. I am immensely proud of our collective achievements and the championships we’ve secured! Gray will forever hold a dear place in my heart and always be home.  It’s not an ending. It’s just the point in the story where you turn the page.”

Dr. Newsome, Principal at Gray, states, “We appreciate Dion for his time and dedication to Gray Collegiate Academy, both as a staff member and head basketball coach. He has built this program into a national powerhouse, and we wish him nothing but the best. The status of this program is elite, and that credit goes to Dion and his amazing assistant coaches and players.  I am certain the interest in our program will be high, and we will hire the best person to continue this storied legacy of boys basketball at Gray”.The search will begin immediately, with an anticipated hire by June 1, 2024. Anyone interested in the position should send their resume to Dr. Newsome, [email protected].