The gym’s court at Williams High School is being named after longtime basketball coach Tommy Cole.
The Alamance-Burlington School System board of education approved the naming at last week’s meeting.
- Advertisement -
“Wow, that’s the ultimate dream come true for any coach to have the court named for him or her. I’m speechless, if that can be possible.”
– Former longtime Williams basketball coach Tommy Cole
“Wow, that’s the ultimate dream come true for any coach to have the court named for him or her,” Cole said. “I’m speechless, if that can be possible.”
Cole, a 1968 graduate, also was a standout player for the Bulldogs. His No. 34 jersey has been retired at the school.
[Story continues below photos.]
A collection of Tommy Cole’s past players, assistants, and support staff gathered for a presentation during his retirement festivities in 2023.
Current boys’ coach Jimmy Lloyd spearheaded the effort for the court naming.
Williams basketball coach Jimmy Lloyd
“I kind of wondered why it had never been done. It’s a no-brainer to me. For somebody like him 40 years coaching at the same school . . . and not just as a coach, but as a player, too.”
– Current Williams basketball coach Jimmy Lloyd
“I kind of wondered why it had never been done,” Lloyd said. “It’s a no-brainer to me. For somebody like him 40 years coaching at the same school . . . and not just as a coach, but as a player, too.”
Lloyd said the inscription or decal on the court will be set in June during the floor’s regular summer maintenance. “Tommy Cole Court” will be in two places on the floor.
Lloyd said when he attends coaching clinics and others learn that he works at Williams, the conversations naturally end up with mentions of Cole.
“Having the name on the floor, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Lloyd said. “Everybody I talked to (about the court naming) said ‘absolutely.’ ”
There will be fundraising to cover the costs of the court decals, though Lloyd said the Williams Athletics Boosters Bulldog Club is handling the initial funding.
[Story continues below special subscription offer.]
MORE LOCAL SPORTS NEWS, BUSINESS NEWS, GOVERNMENT NEWS THAN YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE ELSE – each week in print and every day online. Subscribe today for unlimited online access.
Cole had a 40-year run as a basketball coach at Williams, at one time coaching the boys’ and girls’ teams during the same season. His last season in the gym came in 2022-23 as boys’ coach.
His boys’ team won the 1996 state championship in Class 3-A. He had runner-up teams in 2012 (girls) and 2019 (boys).
He compiled 787 all-time basketball coaching wins, including those from four seasons with the Graham boys’ team, which won a state title under his direction.
After his playing days at Williams, he went on to become one of the all-time greats at what was then Elon College.
The spring of 2024 was Cole’s final season as boys’ golf coach at Williams. On August 16, he’ll be inducted into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame.
So with the court naming and the Hall of Fame distinction, he’s collecting more honors.
“What a great closing of my career,” Cole said. “It seems like I was appreciated.”
A majority of Alamance County’s commissioners have approved two applicants endorsed by the local chamber of commerce to serve as industry representatives on the...
