COAL MOUNTAIN -- North Forsyth High School has high hopes for the future of its basketball programs.
This week, the Raiders introduced two new coaches they feel have the pedigree to mold North Forsyth into a consistent winner on the hardwood.
Former White County and Chattahoochee High coach Eric Herrick will take over the girls program in Coal Mountain, while Brian Moon will lead the boys team after leaving a successful program behind in Birmingham, Ala.
"Both of these coaches have tremendous expertise," North Forsyth athletic director Nathan Turner said. "We're going to have build something, but we're going to build with consistency so that we're competitive every year at the Class AAAAA level."
Herrick led Chattahoochee to the Class AAAA Final Four this season and brings a 115-56 record to Coal Mountain. The North Hall High grad (1994) takes over from Jack Sarfaty after the Lady Raiders went 6-19 during the 2010-11 campaign. North Forsyth has not reached the state playoffs since 2007.
"Our expectations are extremely high," Herrick said. "White County and Chattahoochee were in the same position when I came in and we were able to have success. I think we can get this program on the same page with the best programs in that region of Class AAAAA."
The Lady Raiders were extremely young this season, featuring 25 freshmen and sophomores amongst the 30 players in the various levels of the program.
The move for Herrick will be a short one, literally, as the coach lives just around the corner from the school.
"I live about a mile from the high school, so I'll be a lot closer to home," said Herrick, who has two region titles to his name. "I just love the community here. It has great support, and it still has that hometown appeal."
Moon, meanwhile, will be making a move of roughly 200 miles after leaving Alabama's Spain Park High in the suburbs of Birmingham.
The 17-year coaching veteran has won five region titles and averaged just over 20 wins per season in 10 years at Spain Park and seven years at Hoover High. Moon's 2007 Spain Park team reached Alabama's Class AAAAAA Final Four and his most recent squad finished ranked fifth in the state.
"I think change is a good thing, and I found the North Forsyth area interesting and I'm trying to go to another level," said Moon, who says he had no real ties to the Raiders program. "I just fell in love with the place and the people I talked with over there. They were down to earth, and they've got some vision."
Moon says his experience in building the Hoover and Spain Park programs from scratch will come in handy in Coal Mountain.
"I've been in a similar situation in two high schools looking to build something," said Moon, who takes over from Bobby Pless after North Forsyth went 3-22 in 2010-11.
The Raiders have not reached the postseason since 2006.
"We're very excited," Turner said. "We feel like both of these coaches bring something special to North Forsyth basketball."
Wednesday
May 21st, 2025
1:42AM
