Prep basketball: Causby leaves Salisbury for North Hills

Jason Causby sits in the North Hills gymnasium. Causby has left a successful program at Salisbury to go to the private school. Photo by Ronnie Gallagher, Salisbury Post

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

Jason Causby is leaving Salisbury High School’s talented basketball program and has accepted the head coaching job at North Hills Christian School.

It’s a stunning development that Causby would leave a team that has made it to the 2A sectional finals four straight years and has a group returning for the 2010-2011 season that could go much deeper in the playoffs.

“What happened is not what you want,” Salisbury athletics director Joe Pinyan said. “But your biggest concern is the kids who are playing and to find somebody who will fit these kids and make the situation continue to roll.”

In six years, Causby turned the Hornets into an annual 2A contender, even being ranked No. 1 in the state during a 28-2 season in 2009. He leaves with a record of 90-49.

But Causby quickly points out this move is not as much about basketball as it his family.

All three of his children, Jaysa, Grey and Griggs, ranging in age from six months to six years, are in the school’s elementary and child care programs. In fact, he was a student at North Hills when he was in elementary school.

“This is a great opportunity for me to be with my kids every day,” Causby said. “It all came together really quickly. It wasn’t something I sought out. It sought me out.”

Causby had conducted a basketball camp at the school this summer. He was informed by headmaster Matt Mitchell that not only was the boys basketball job open but also a special education position. Causby has a masters in special education.

He said he talked to Salisbury principal Windsor Eagle about the move and now he has left the Hornets to become a North Hills Eagle.

“I see a lot of similarities between (Mitchell) and Dr. Eagle as far as work ethic,” said Causby who was actually on the North Hills school board last year. “I believe in the vision of the school.”

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But he also feels strongly about the students he’s leaving at Salisbury.

“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life,” he said. “My players won’t fully understand my decision. Hopefully, they will — and how much they mean to me.”

Salisbury is expected to be a state championship contender this season. Not only is Central Carolina Conference player of the year Darien Rankin returning, but so is a potential front line of 6-8 Tony Nunn, 6-7 Alex Weant and 6-7 Tyler Petty. Romar Morris and John Knox have been on Causby’s varsity for three years.

“I wanted to try and win a state championship,” Causby said. “These guys can do it with or without me. I was a small piece to the puzzle.”

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Causby has the same goals now, just at a small private school.

North Hills is a member of the Mid-State Athletic Christian Conference but changes are coming under Causby.

This year, he’ll have two varsity teams, one that will continue in the Mid-State, and another that will be basically a regional team, playing the likes of Fork Union.

In the 2011-12 season, that varsity team will join the Southern Piedmont Athletic Association, which includes United Faith, Victory Christian, Gaston Day and Davidson Day.

He wants a rigorous schedule this season in preparation for that. He said Fork Union’s Fletcher Arritt has already said he’d drop by for a game at North Hills after his team makes its annual trek to Pfeiffer.

“We’re going to step it up,” said Causby, whose childhood buddy Dadrian Cuthbertson will be his assistant. “We’ll get in as many tournaments as we can and play the Gaston Days as nonconference foes.”

Can Causby get the type of players who can compete at that level to come to North Hills?

“We’ll attract kids who want to be here for a Christian education and who want a different option as far as playing a regional schedule,” Causby said. “I see the focus in public school shifting to private school. At least three of the top five-rated players in the state all went private.”

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Salisbury has already moved ahead with the interview process.

“Wow, how do you do it so quickly,” mused Pinyan, who knows school is starting Wednesday. “It’s up to the principal and athletic director to jump back in there. Anytime a coach leaves, it’s a stunning development. You don’t want any coach to leave.”

Amazingly, Salisbury has lost both of its basketball coaches from a year ago. Andrew Mitchell, who led the girls to a second straight state title, returned to his alma mater at North Rowan to coach the boys, and now, Causby.

“I have definitely grown fond of the traditional rivalries,” Causby said. “It still stirs a lot of emotion in me. There’s nothing like playing over at North Rowan or in the Sam Moir (Christmas Classic).

“This will be an adjustment. I don’t think it will be better or worse — just different.”