Former Newton-Conover assistant helped Red Devils to 44-3 record in two seasons
New Mitchell High varsity girls’ basketball coach Colton Medlin poses for a photo Friday, Aug. 6 outside of the school. Medlin, 25, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the Newton-Conover High varsity girls’ basketball team and he said he’s ready for a new challenge. (MNJ photo/Cory Spiers)
LEDGER — The Mitchell High School varsity girls’ basketball team will be coached next season by former Newton-Conover assistant Colton Medlin.
Medlin, 25, replaces Zack McCartha who earlier this summer was hired to lead McDowell High’s varsity girls’ team. McCartha was tabbed as 2021 All-District Coach of the Year by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association after leading the Mountaineers to a 16-1 record and an appearance in the 1A Western Regional Championship game during the COVID-shortened season.
In two seasons as an assistant to Newton-Conover head varsity girls’ coach Sylvia White, Medlin helped the team go 44-3 overall and 28-0 in conference play. During the shortened 2020-21 season, the team went undefeated in the regular season and won a state playoff game.
The Newton-Conover girls would have played for a state title in Medlin’s first season but the 2A Championship Game between the Red Devils and Farmville Central was canceled amid the pandemic.
Medlin said he learned a lot in those two seasons, especially some things he picked up directly from White.
“It was a good blueprint,” Medlin said. “We did some good stuff down there. There are some things I’m looking to bring up here. [White] was a good person to learn from. She had a really good impact on me. I learned a lot of stuff from her.”
Medlin, who played high school football and basketball at Bandys High in Catawba, said he plans to put an onus on hard work, fundamentals, teamwork and building strong relationships with players, coaches and the community.
“When I first got into coaching, I wasn’t into it for wins and losses,” Medlin said. “I focused on the impact on the players like my coaches had on me. It’s kind of like a pay it forward kind of thing.”
While Medlin admitted he isn’t completely propelled by wins and losses, he’s seen a lot of them in just two seasons as an assistant— 44 to be exact. His quick success as a varsity assistant had him on track to become the next head coach of the Newton-Conover junior varsity boys’ basketball team.
Then, Mitchell called.
“I kind of felt bad about hanging them out to dry but when you get an opportunity to move up the totem pole, you kind of have to,” Medlin said.
Medlin will move up the pole and into position to lead a Mitchell girls’ team that has gotten used to success, improving in each of McCartha’s five seasons with the team.
McCartha led the Mountaineers to a 14-12 finish in his first season and followed by leading the team to records of 20-8, 16-11, 22-6 and 16-1 in each of the next four seasons. Mitchell finished ranked in the top 10 among state 1A programs in three of his five seasons at the helm.
“I wouldn’t say there’s pressure,” Medlin said about sustaining the success. “It’s a little intimidating but I think I’m ready.”
Medlin, who played college football for four seasons at Emory & Henry College, said he’d be happy to help as an assistant football coach at Mitchell in the future if asked. McCartha served as a quarterbacks coach for the varsity team.
“I think they’re holding off to let me get my first season under my belt,” Medlin said about also coaching football. “But I’m not opposed to that.”