By Langston Wertz Jr.
Former North Mecklenburg High star Titus Ivory has stepped down as head boys basketball coach at Hickory Grove Christian School.
Ivory, 38, was 23-68 in four years. Hickory Grove was 4-18 last season.
“We had a difference in philosophy,” Ivory said. “The school wanted to go in one direction and I felt in order to achieve success, we needed to go in a (different) direction, and they were not willing to develop a process to get that done.”
Ivory graduated North Mecklenburg in 1995, where he was a two-time All-Observer performer in football and basketball. Ivory later played basketball at Penn State and enjoyed an 11-year pro career overseas with stops in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Israel, the Philippines and Lithuania. Ivory won two European League national championships and a German Cup title.
Ivory, who doesn’t work at Hickory Grove, said he hoped to coach high school again.
“I love teaching and coaching and developing young people,” Ivory said. “I want young people from Charlotte to understand, regardless of your talent level, if you work hard at anything you can become successful. And I want to say thanks to all the families at Hickory Grove, the staff and athletic director. I want to thank them for their support over the last four years, especially the families that I coach. I still love that place, but we had a change in philosophy and I wish them the best.”
Former North Mecklenburg High star Titus Ivory has stepped down as head boys basketball coach at Hickory Grove Christian School.
Ivory, 38, was 23-68 in four years. Hickory Grove was 4-18 last season.
“We had a difference in philosophy,” Ivory said. “The school wanted to go in one direction and I felt in order to achieve success, we needed to go in a (different) direction, and they were not willing to develop a process to get that done.”
Ivory graduated North Mecklenburg in 1995, where he was a two-time All-Observer performer in football and basketball. Ivory later played basketball at Penn State and enjoyed an 11-year pro career overseas with stops in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Israel, the Philippines and Lithuania. Ivory won two European League national championships and a German Cup title.
Ivory, who doesn’t work at Hickory Grove, said he hoped to coach high school again.
“I love teaching and coaching and developing young people,” Ivory said. “I want young people from Charlotte to understand, regardless of your talent level, if you work hard at anything you can become successful. And I want to say thanks to all the families at Hickory Grove, the staff and athletic director. I want to thank them for their support over the last four years, especially the families that I coach. I still love that place, but we had a change in philosophy and I wish them the best.”
