High School Sports

After winning 3 straight state titles, former Chambers High coach to return to sidelines

Vance Cougars head coach Donnell Rhyne yells instructions to his team during second half action of the 4A State Championship against Garner at Wheatmore High School in Trinity, NC on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Vance defeated Garner 74-38.
Vance Cougars head coach Donnell Rhyne yells instructions to his team during second half action of the 4A State Championship against Garner at Wheatmore High School in Trinity, NC on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Vance defeated Garner 74-38. jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

After winning three straight state championships at Chambers High School, Cougars girls basketball coach Donnell Rhyne resigned last month.

He didn’t stay out of the game long.

Rhyne told the Observer Tuesday that he had accepted a job as the new girls coach at Northside Christian School.

Rhyne, 46, was at Chambers for six years and has been head coach all that time. His teams have won four regular-season and two conference tournament state championships in addition to the state titles.

This season’s team had 10 new players but just one incoming freshman, Rhyne said. When nine players came from area schools, Rhyne said it led to a two-week investigation by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Chambers was not found guilty of anything after the local inquiry and the team went on a big roll after it was done, finishing the season with a championship. And Rhyne thinks the next coach will have a shot at a fourth. Chambers returns four starters.

At Northside, Rhyne takes over a team that 8-7 last season but was 13-48 in the three seasons it played before that.

Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription
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