After their first winning season since 2008, Midway head girls basketball coach Brian Wallum decided to step down as head coach to focus on teaching his English classes and coaching cross country and track and field.
Last week, the search for a new coach ended, as the Raider program hired Allen McLamb to become the head basketball coach. McLamb has served as Midway’s boys soccer coach and assistant coach on the boys and girls basketball teams in the past.
“Allen McLamb is a great fit for our girls basketball program,” said Midway High School principal, Monty Strickland. “Coach McLamb brings a lot of experience from many different sports, and he has proven himself as a great leader. He has also proven that he can get the most out of his teams, no matter the sport, and has been successful in every sport that he has coached in.”
Midway also named the hiring of assistant coach, Clint Williams, who was a standout basketball player for the Raiders in his day, and has had coaching experience at the high school and middle school level, coaching boys basketball.
“I am really excited for the opportunity to get back into coaching,” said Williams, who left teaching and coaching a few years back to help out on his family farm.
“I think that the girls have tons of potential,” he continued. “Losing (senior) Taylor Faircloth’s shooting and scoring abilities and the rebounding of (senior) Briana Butler will be hard to replace, but the girls are young and eager to get better. It will be fun to be able to potentially coach my daughter, Leah, during her last two years of high school ball, and I am looking forward to working alongside Allen McLamb, who is a high-energy guy who really wants to see the girls do well and improve. It is a great opportunity for everyone that is involved and I am very excited for the upcoming season.”
McLamb was unavailable for comment at press time, but it was passed through the Midway administration that he is excited for the opportunity and feels that his team has a solid chance to compete for a conference championship in each of the next two seasons with the girls and talent that the team is returning.