It happened Tuesday for only the third time in the last eight years when former assistant Linn Williams was elevated to head coach at South Rowan High.

Tom Sexton’s coached at Salisbury for 18 years. Bill Kesler’s reign at North spans 16 years. Jeff Safrit’s called the shots at East the last 10 years and before Chris Cauble took over at West prior to the 2000 season, Skip Kraft had been on the job eight years. Now Williams replaces Dwayne Fink, who resigned this summer after five years on the job.

There were many factors involved in Fink’s decision: the hours, his son reaching baseball age and the desire to pursue additional academic degrees. Fink said that frustration with three straight tough years on the field also played a role. South was 20-47 the past three seasons, suffering a number of draining losses. The defeats took a toll on Fink, who guided the South jayvees to a 19-0 season in 1995, then led the varsity to its best season ever (23-4) in ‘96. Fink was county co-coach of the year along with Kesler in ‘96.

“I tried to convince Dwayne not to resign,” said South principal Dr. Alan King. “But Dwayne wanted a change of pace.”

With Fink’s decision final, King and athletics director Larry Deal went after a replacement.

“There was a lot of interest. We interviewed a number of strong candidates,” said King.

Ultimately, King and Deal didn’t have to look far. They found Williams right under their roof. He’s not a Fink clone, but there are more similarities than differences.

Both are young — Williams is only 31 — and both are respected teachers with solid academic backgrounds. Fink graduated from N.C. State and teaches math; Williams, a Davidson grad, teaches Advanced Placement European History.

“Dwayne was a good influence on Linn,” said King.

Williams also is experienced. He’s already amassed a mile-long baseball résumé.

His dad taught him the game. Then he played high school ball at Concord and spent three years as an outfielder at Davidson. After that, he was an assistant at Davidson (1992-93) and at Mount Pleasant High (‘94).

In ‘95, at age 26, he got the head job at Mount when the Tigers played in the 2A Yadkin Valley Conference along with Salisbury, North Rowan and West Rowan. Williams took the Tigers to the YVC tourney finals his first year and to the semifinals his second year.

Williams also spent six summers — from 1991-96 — with the Concord American Legion team.

In ‘97, Williams joined the South faculty. He’s been an assistant football coach (he coaches defensive backs) since then, and became a baseball assistant in ‘98.

For one thing, he’s the football team’s new quarterbacks coach. For another, his wife, Angie, is Deal’s daughter.

Chrismon helped out with the South baseball team in ‘99 and was responsible (along with Fink) for the legendary year turned in by Matt Austin, who went from zero pitching experience to all-conference status almost overnight.

“When he was a volunteer coach, Thad was really popular with the kids,” said King. “They rallied around him.”

Chrismon, 27, has a background filled with athletic success.

He was a three-sport star at ApexHigh School (near Raleigh), then pitched for four years at UNC. That’s where he met his future wife, then a UNCcheerleader.

Chrismon was the Tar Heels’ ace reliever from 1993-95. He still holds the records for career saves and single-season saves for the ACC. A three-time All-American, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and played for farm teams in Eugene, Ore., and Macon, Ga., in ‘95 and ‘96 before leaving baseball.

King sees Williams and Chrismon as the ideal duo to give South baseball a jump-start.

“They’ve got the same values, they’re both enthusiastic and they both want to help kids,” he said.

Oddly enough, Williams and Chrismon first crossed paths about nine years ago. UNCplayed Davidson when Chrismon was a Tar Heel freshman and Williams was a Wildcat senior. In another coincidence, both coaches have infant sons. Tyler Williams is 7 months old. Austin Chrismon is 11 months. Maybe they’ll be Raider teammates some day. Right now, though, getting South baseball rolling is up to their dads.

“Linn and Thad make a good package,” said Deal. “We’re fortunate to have someone with Linn’s experience. Thad’s credentials speak for themselves.”

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Williams has no thoughts about a complete overhaul of the program.

“Dwayne was a great baseball coach who always paid attention to detail. We were fundamentally sound,” he said.

But South experienced a 2000 season that was frustrating, to say the least.

It beat its neighbors. It stopped Mooresville (beating Detroit Tigers draft pick Jeremy Johnson), Northwest Cabarrus and North Rowan. It knocked off Kannapolis and West Rowan twice each. But it went 0-8 in the 4A Central Piedmont Conference.

“We’ve got to do better in our eight conference games,” said Williams. “We’ve played people in our area tough, but we’ve got to find a way to bring that same intensity to the conference. Winning league games gets you in the state playoffs. And the purpose is the playoffs. That’s the goal for every team in the state.”

Williams has some players to build around. South has three returning starters in all-conference shortstop Ronnie Shore, second baseman Greg Deal and third baseman Craig Haas.

But the key to making a move is pitching. That’s where Chrismon’s knowledge and intensity should help vets like Tim Cook and Jared Wingler.

“You don’t have to throw 95 mph or have an exploding curveball to be successful,” said Chrismon. “My goal is to have an opportunity to win every game we play.”

That’s easier said than done, obviously, but Williams and Chrismon will take their best shot.

“After Dwayne resigned, I don’t know how many kids came up to me and said they hoped coach Williams would be the new coach,” said King. “I just wish we could get started tomorrow.”