McDuffie hired as Freedom Christian coach
By Monica Holland FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Sports editor
Freedom Christian Academy has hired Marcus McDuffie to coach girls’ varsity basketball, school athletic director Brandon Clifford announced Monday.
McDuffie has spent the past two seasons as a jayvee boys’ basketball head coach and varsity assistant coach at Terry Sanford High School.
“I feel honored to be able to take the reins at Freedom,” McDuffie said. “It’s been a long time coming. God just put it in play, put me in the right spot.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”
The move reunites McDuffie, a graduate of Seventy-First High School and Fayetteville State University, with Clifford. They played AAU basketball together as teenagers.
“We are very excited to add Marcus to our roster of coaches here at Freedom. I have known him for a long time, and I know his competitive spirit and passion for the game of basketball is perfect for what we are trying to build here at Freedom,” Clifford said in a school statement.
McDuffie has coached basketball from recreation leagues up to the semi-professional level. He’s coached girls’ softball teams, but this will be his first time leading a high school girls’ basketball program.
“I love to coach and to me, basketball is basketball,” he said.
“I’m all about fundamentals and defense. We know that defense wins championships and offense wins ball games. I’m hoping to bring that mentality to the girls.”
McDuffie replaces Anthony Crawford, who was serving as the fourth girls’ basketball coach in five seasons at Freedom, which was established in 2008.
The Patriots will lose just one senior from last year’s roster, which went 5-16 overall, 0-11 in the NCISAA Sandhills Conference, and was comprised mostly of student-athletes in middle school.
McDuffie is not intimidated by the challenge. “I embrace challenges,” he said.
“I don’t see us having any problems competing in the conference.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3518.
By Monica Holland FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Sports editor
Freedom Christian Academy has hired Marcus McDuffie to coach girls’ varsity basketball, school athletic director Brandon Clifford announced Monday.
McDuffie has spent the past two seasons as a jayvee boys’ basketball head coach and varsity assistant coach at Terry Sanford High School.
“I feel honored to be able to take the reins at Freedom,” McDuffie said. “It’s been a long time coming. God just put it in play, put me in the right spot.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”
The move reunites McDuffie, a graduate of Seventy-First High School and Fayetteville State University, with Clifford. They played AAU basketball together as teenagers.
“We are very excited to add Marcus to our roster of coaches here at Freedom. I have known him for a long time, and I know his competitive spirit and passion for the game of basketball is perfect for what we are trying to build here at Freedom,” Clifford said in a school statement.
McDuffie has coached basketball from recreation leagues up to the semi-professional level. He’s coached girls’ softball teams, but this will be his first time leading a high school girls’ basketball program.
“I love to coach and to me, basketball is basketball,” he said.
“I’m all about fundamentals and defense. We know that defense wins championships and offense wins ball games. I’m hoping to bring that mentality to the girls.”
McDuffie replaces Anthony Crawford, who was serving as the fourth girls’ basketball coach in five seasons at Freedom, which was established in 2008.
The Patriots will lose just one senior from last year’s roster, which went 5-16 overall, 0-11 in the NCISAA Sandhills Conference, and was comprised mostly of student-athletes in middle school.
McDuffie is not intimidated by the challenge. “I embrace challenges,” he said.
“I don’t see us having any problems competing in the conference.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver. com or 910-486-3518.
