Ryan Wells named new CBA girls coach

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 29, 2013 11:29 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- One door closed and another door opened.

Ryan Wells didn't hesitate to step inside at Charles B. Aycock.

After guiding the Rosewood High varsity girls' basketball team the past four seasons, the energetic and knowledgeable coach has been hired for the same position with the Golden Falcons. Wells succeeds Laura Romo, who enjoyed a successful four-year run that included four straight postseason appearances.

"We are very excited to get an experienced head coach who comes highly recommended, CBA athletics director Charles Davis said. "He is a hard worker. We expect him to continue building a program after Coach Romo did such a good job."

Wells requested a transfer since he and his family live in the CBA district. Initial conversations with school administrators involved just teaching, but Wells intended to assist in some manner with the athletics department. When talks shifted toward possibly replacing Romo, he couldn't say no.

Aycock finished 14-14 last season, and advanced to the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A playoffs. The Golden Falcons emerged runners-up in Eastern Carolina Conference regular-season and tournament play to county archrival Eastern Wayne.

During Romo's tenure, Aycock won two ECC regular-season crowns, one tournament title and amassed 63 victories. All four teams recorded either a first- or second-place finish in conference play.

A majority of the team returns as it prepares for competition in the new ECC 3-A/4-A this year. The league includes 4-A schools J.H. Rose, D.H. Conley, South Central and New Bern.

"The girls and I, that's one of the first things we addressed and one thing I learned real quick about the girls at Aycock is they're not intimidated," Wells said. "That's no disrespect to the teams we'll play. They see it as a challenge ... are excited about playing new schools.

"The past two weeks with the girls in the gym have been great."

Wells expects to put a squad on the floor that suits his aggressive style of coaching. He says the team will have a good inside-out game, effective guards and depth on the bench.

Rosewood, in Wells' final campaign, enjoyed its best season since the Jerry Narron era. The Eagles were runners-up to Carolina 1-A Conference juggernaut Goldsboro in regular-season and tournament play. Their season ended with a second-round playoff loss at future Carolina opponent Lakewood.

A search is underway to replace Wells.

"Coach Wells is a quality person and a very good basketball coach," RHS athletics director Robert Britt said. "We appreciate the fine work he did for us and I'm confident he will be successful at C.B. Aycock. (Our search) will be something that we will take our time doing to ensure we find the best candidate for the job."