Greensboro Day School Basketball Coach to be inducted into NC Sports Hall of Fame

Greensboro Day School Basketball Coach to be inducted into NC Sports Hall of Fame
(Press Release courtesy of the Greensboro Day School on Lawndale Drive)

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2016 induction class yesterday. The nine new members include Freddy Johnson, Greensboro Day School Athletic Director and Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach.

Johnson has served as the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach since 1977 and the Athletic Director of Greensboro Day School since 1978. His coaching accomplishments include being the winningest high school basketball coach in North Carolina, celebrating his 950th win against Wesleyan Christian Academy on January 12, 2016; he has led the Bengals to five consecutive HAECO Invitational Tournament championships (14 overall), 23 PACIS Conference Championships and 8 NCISAA State Championships. He has been the PACIS Conference Coach of the Year 20 times and was named the USA Today North Carolina Coach of the Year in 2015. He has coached in six all-star games including the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2013.

“To say we are proud of Coach Johnson would be an understatement. Not only does Coach Johnson excel at what he does, but he truly loves his work and has the ability to instill positive values with the students he coaches.” stated Mark Hale, Greensboro Day School Head of School.

In his typical humble fashion, Coach Johnson downplayed the induction, and offered thanks to the students and players that he has had the opportunity to coach throughout the years.

The inductees will be enshrined during the 53rd annual induction banquet on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the Raleigh Convention Center. A news conference will take place on Thursday, May 5 at 4 p.m.

“The achievements of this year’s class of inductees enrich North Carolina’s remarkable sports heritage, and they certainly earned the honor of joining the 319 men and women who have been previously enshrined,” said Fredrick Reese, president of the Hall. “This is our 53rd class, and we look forward to celebrating this special time in our state’s sports history.”

The N.C. Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1963. The permanent exhibit, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, is located on the third floor of the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh and features significant artifacts and memorabilia donated by inductees. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

The 2016 induction class also includes Rod Brind’Amour, Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, David Fox, James “Rabbit” Fulghum, Antawn Jamison, Haywood Jeffires, Ray Price, and Susan Yow.