By John Clark
ELIZABETHTOWN – At their July board meeting, the Bladen County Board of Education approved a number of coaching changes and additions with some big-name Bladen natives coming back home to help out at West Bladen.
Joining new coach Preston Worley’s football staff as assistant coaches at West Bladen will be Bladenboro natives Alvin Thompson and Jerry Singletary. Thompson coached East Bladen to the 2001 NCHSAA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship in their last season as Cougars. Thompson will also replace Brian McCleney as the girls’ basketball coach at West Bladen.
McCleney will remain the cross-country coach for the Knights and will add golf and bowling to his coaching duties.
Singletary who starred on Bladenboro’s 1992 NCHSAA Eastern Regional Boys Basketball Championship team will be returning to Bladen County after winning over 200 games in 15 seasons as the head boys basketball coach at Whiteville. Singletary will also coach girls’ track and field.
Wade Pait, who bailed the Knights out when new baseball coaching hire Jason Jones changed his mind 3 weeks before the 2023 season began, was removed as baseball coach after leading West Bladen to the state playoffs in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Clint Allen, a West Bladen and Coker College grad, will take over the Knight baseball program. He is currently employed by Bladen County Recreation. Jason Bryant will be Allen’s assistant and will also coach the jayvee baseball team.
Josh Allen, a key member of the 1999 Bladenboro baseball team that captured the Class 1A Eastern Regional Championship, has been named the softball coach replacing Kaitlyn Sykes. Sykes coached the Lady Knights in 2024 replacing Pam Stephens, who retired the previous year. Sykes will continue to coach junior varsity volleyball at West Bladen.
No major changes were announced for East Bladen’s head coaches. Walt Williamson was named the Eagles’ bowling coach.
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