OAKWOOD Ga. — West Hall boys basketball coach Bobby Pless announced he is stepping down after seven seasons in Oakwood
Pless informed Spartans’ Athletic Director David Wagner of his decision just after school on Thursday.
“Bobby is a class act on and off the court. We lost one of the finest men and coaches I’ve been around in my 25 years,” Wagner said. “We greatly appreciate what he has done for the players here.”
Pless was an assistant with the West Hall girls program for five seasons with former coach Bryan Richerson. He is the current cross country coach for the Spartans and said he will remain in that capacity.
“I love West Hall,” Pless said. “I’ve been here 10 years and I plan on staying as long as they will let me. I just felt like the time was right for someone else to come in and take it over.”
The Spartans made the state playoffs three times and finished as Lanierland runner-up in 2019 during Pless’s tenure. After a hot start to the 2022-23 season, the Spartans finished 12-14 overall and 6-6 in Region 7-3A. They lost region runner-up Gilmer in the region tournament. As a boys coach, he spent one season as Chestatee, three at North Hall, and six at North Forsyth before coming to West Hall as an assistant girls coach before taking over the boys program.
“I felt we built a competitive program overall,” Pless said. “I feel like the program is in a good place right now.”
Wagner said there is no timetable on finding the next Spartans coach.
“I don’t like putting a ‘time’ on something like this,” Wagner said. “It may be the first guy we interview or the 50th. My timetable is just to find the right guy to lead the program, however long that takes.”
