AUGUSTA, Ga. () — Jerry Hunter, after leading Westside boys basketball for six seasons and achieving multiple region titles, is leaving. Under his guidance, the program won three consecutive Georgia High School Association Class AA state championships.

Hunter, who also secured a state championship title while coaching at Laney for four years, will now be the head boys basketball coach at Grovetown.

The move comes shortly after state championship-winning coach Darren Douglas decided to step away from Grovetown after four years at the helm. 

“I’m grateful for my time at Grovetown and in the area,” said Douglas, who also led the Aquinas Fightin’ Irish boys to a state championship. “This is where I began my journey as a basketball coach, encountering many wonderful and amazing individuals along the way.”

Douglas coached the Warriors to a Class AAAAAA state crown during the 2021-22 season, and his program produced a good stack of collegiate talent, including Derrion Reid who just finished his freshman season at Alabama. 

Both Grovetown and Westside made postseason appearances last season and both fell in their respective first round state tournament games. 

In Grovetown, Hunter will take on a program that, before Douglas came, had only achieved marginal success. Meanwhile, Westside will be searching for someone to fill the large shoes of a coach, in Hunter, who built the Patriots into a regionally respected Georgia basketball powerhouse. 

The challenge of building a state power at Grovetown gives Hunter a unique opportunity to compete in the largest classification in Georgia in a region that includes recently nationally ranked programs from metro Atlanta such as Grayson and Newton without leaving the Augusta area. 

I had the chance to catch up with Hunter as he gave some candid insight onto his departure from Westside. 

STOVALL: How hard was it for you to walk away from Westside and Richmond County and yet still be coaching in the area?

HUNTER: “You know, I could sense it at the end of last season. After the 3-peat and fundraising for three consecutive years I was drained, man. Coaching and having to raise money is tough, and without the necessary resources or support, raising funds wasn’t fun. Big shout out to the Brodie Group and Allen Odom for their help in that regard. As for still being in the area, my dad has been living with me since last summer due to a health related issue, so the location is perfect considering this situation.”

STOVALL: What made you decide that this was the right move to make at this moment in your career? 

HUNTER: “While in conversation with God throughout this past season, I asked that if it’s your will for me to continue coaching, I would like for it to be outside of the Richmond County area, or if transitioning to administration is the next phase, then I’ll humbly accept it. At the end of summer last year I was offered an opportunity for administration, however I decided that due to timing, loyalty to the team was an important ingredient to my integrity.”

STOVALL: What is it about Grovetown that makes this move and opportunity attractive? 

HUNTER: “The Grovetown opportunity is interesting. Of course coaching high school, student athletes all share a lot in common, but I think this situation will provide room for growth along with new and welcomed challenges. I’m no stranger to struggle or adversity, after coaching inner city baseball [at Laney] for years, I’ve taken the ‘reap what you sow’ mentality to basketball, and I think it’s been a productive approach throughout my years of coaching.” 

STOVALL: What did you tell your guys at Westside as you announced this?

HUNTER: “What’s understood doesn’t have to be explained. My conversations with guys have always been candid. Even during those tough love moments, I would always make sure they understood I was critiquing not criticizing their actions. So, this was a time when I explained the journey had gotten overwhelming, just as I said  to you earlier. They know Coach Hunter quite well, that I wouldn’t turn my back on them, had I taken the administration position I mentioned, I’m sure that would have triggered a few ill feelings. However, we’re in the days of the “transfer portal,” so change is inevitable, even in the realm of high school athletics. I would like to think of my situation as a model of process in transformation. Just modeling the art of changing in a fundamental way — the nature and function of it all. The caterpillar and the butterfly are both one of the same. Their environments require transformation.”

Stay tuned for more from Hunter in the coming days during our 6, 10 and 11 p.m. broadcasts.