North Duplin’s John Oliver has stepped down as head varsity girls’ basketball coach due to health reasons. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — John Oliver has stepped down as head varsity girls basketball coach at North Duplin.
The 77-year-old consulted with his family, doctors and school administrators before deciding it’s in his best interest to focus on his health and family.
“My last trip to the emergency room, my wife and children convinced me that I couldn’t continue to do it, needed to take some pressure off myself,” Oliver said. “I decided it was the best thing for me to do. I have to go through a lot of [heart] tests the next month or two. I just don’t want to push it. I want to live a little longer for my family and grandkids.”
North Duplin athletics director Ricky Edwards said interviews to find Oliver’s successor will start after spring break. According to MaxPreps.com, the vacancy has not been listed online.
Oliver made his announcement after the Rebels’ season-ending loss to East Columbus in round two of the NC High School Athletic Association Class 1A state playoffs.
He vividly recalled that gut-wrenching moment.
“It wasn’t easy because I could look them in the face and tell that they were hurt, including a couple of them who I promised that I would be back to coach them next year,” Oliver said.
Three years ago, Oliver intended to walk away.
A conversation with his assistant coach, Sandy McCarty, convinced him to stay after the middle school had enjoyed a couple of solid seasons on the hardwood.
Oliver didn’t know what to expect.
He wondered if those athletes could turn the program.
They did.
And woke up Carolina 1A foes who had given the program little respect over the previous decade. Success had not been the Rebels’ friend on too many occasions.
“One thing I learned about girls, they tried to do what you ask of them,” Oliver said. “You could talk to them and coach them better than could you with the boys. I enjoyed every aspect of the game these past three years. I’ve had fun. Those girls won my heart because they played way beyond my expectations and we did some marvelous things.”
Indeed.
Since the 2021-22 campaign, Oliver guided his most-talented teams to 64 total wins, including an eye-popping 35-1 mark at home. His 2022 and 2023 squads claimed the Carolina 1A regular-season and tournament crowns.
North Duplin “three-peated” as the tournament champ this winter and logged an 18-8 worksheet.
Each team participated in the NCHSAA playoffs, which included an eastern semifinal-round trip in 2023.
“A great run,” Oliver said.
Two starters and one reserve graduate off this year’s team.
The new head coach will inherit three returning starters – 1,000-point scorer Addy Higginbotham, center Tateyawna Faison and Lilly Fulghum. Also slated to return are Eva Quintanilla, Abigeal Brown and several other players who saw limited time on the hardwood.
Newcomers from the middle school team that finished 10-2 will also contend for playing time. Oliver expects the Rebels to contend for league supremacy along with Lakewood and Neuse Charter next season.
“Whoever comes in next year is going to have a good team,” Oliver said. “I hoped I made an impression on those girls more than just as a coach and have helped them learn the facts of life. Some [past players] have come back and thanked me for my little speeches that I gave them.
“I’ve enjoyed being with these girls.”
