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Staff Reports

After a long search, the Valley Rams’ have named Robert Cotton as the new head boys basketball coach pending the approval of the school board. 

This move comes after legendary coach Marshon Harper announced his retirement on April 24 after more than two decades with the program. Cotton served as Appling County’s (GA) basketball coach last season. 

Cotton was recommended unanimously by the hiring committee after the candidate pool was narrowed down to six applicants. Cotton comes with 32 years of teaching and coaching experience. 

Cotton won 4A region coach of the year in 2003 while leading Manchester High School and he was also named assistant coach of the year for the region in 1998 as he served as the receivers coach for Manchester’s state title run. 

Cotton has 23 years of experience as a Boys Varsity Head Basketball Coach during his career in Georgia. His head coaching roles included stops at Manchester High School, Americus-Sumter High School, Crisp County High School, Wayne County High School, Dodge County High School and Southwest High School.

Cotton graduated from Lanett High School in 1982 and played basketball for three seasons. In his first season on the varsity team at Lanett, he played for Coach Dan Washburn before Washburn’s successor, Coach Thurmond Billingslea took over as the head coach for Cotton’s Junior and senior seasons.

Cotton will take over the Rams program immediately with basketball tryouts set to be held on May 24 and 25.