By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Tim Krotish said an opportunity to become a head coach on the collegiate level is worth embracing even with some difficult-to-digest results.
Krotish, a former longtime girls’ basketball coach at Eastern Alamance, is in his first season as Averett’s women’s coach.
“Right place, right time,” Krotish said.
He retired from Eastern in the spring of 2023 after 29 seasons in charge of the Eagles.
He spent a season as a part-time assistant at Averett, which is located in Danville, Virginia, and then became a full-time assistant coach for the 2024-25 season.
There have been financial concerns at Averett, causing some coaches to consider their futures. The head coaching position became vacant with Desireé Driver stepping down this summer, so Krotish was selected to fill the position with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference program.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity, kind of a dream come true,” Krotish said. “I love this stuff.”
Krotish, 64, said one thing hasn’t changed in moving from the high school level to college – the anguish regarding defeats.
Averett, a Division III team, has had four losses by single-digit margins plus an overtime setback. The Cougars (4-6) carry a three-game winning streak into a holiday break.
Earlier this month, Krotish was back in Mebane for a ceremony at Eastern Alamance. The court in the school’s gym was named Krotish Court.
Krotish said it gave him an opportunity to reflect on what had gone into building Eastern’s program. He said there was so much help from many sources that made the honor bestowed on him possible.
“It was what the program had become,” Krotish said.
On a game night when the court was dedicated, Krotish said he came across former players he hadn’t seen in 20-plus years. His regret was that he wasn’t able to have longer conversations with many of the well wishers that evening, he said.
