Former Weddington High state champion takes basketball job at Davidson Day
A former two-time public school champion is moving to a private school.
Ex-Weddington High boys’ basketball coach Gary Ellington has accepted a position at Davidson Day School, he told The Charlotte Observer.
Davidson Day was considered a favorite to win the NCISAA state championship last season, sporting a roster of three 7-foot Division I recruits, but the Patriots finished 23-12, suffering a four-game losing streak in January and ultimately losing in the 3A semifinals to eventual champion Greensboro Day.
At Davidson Day, Ellington will replace Ricky Hickman, who coached the team for two seasons.
Ellington said he will work full-time at the school and start in July.
Gary Ellington’s basketball experience
Ellington heads to Davidson Day with a lot of public school experience. He coached at Weddington for 15 seasons and won more than 300 games, nine conference championships and led teams to four NCHSAA Western Regional appearances.
Weddington’s 2020-21 team finished unbeaten and won the NCHSAA 3A state championship. In the 2021-22 season, he moved up to 4A, then the state’s largest and most competitive classification, and went unbeaten again, winning a second state title and a 49th straight game.
After the 2021-22 season, Ellington was named The Observer’s regional coach of the year.
