South Lenoir Turns to Familiar Face: Vance Wade Named New Basketball Coach
South Lenoir Turns to Familiar Face: Vance Wade Named New Basketball Coach
DEEP RUN— South Lenoir High School has turned to one of its own to lead the boys basketball program, naming longtime coach and alumnus Vance Wade as the new head coach. Wade replaces Brandon Battle, who departed to return home to Martin County after two seasons guiding the Blue Devils.
The move marks South Lenoir’s fourth coaching change in the past five years, a sign of how much the program has searched for stability. The Blue Devils went 5–18 last season, a one-win improvement from each of the previous three seasons.
For Wade, the opportunity is more than just another coaching job — it’s personal.
“It’s very important. I’ve always called South Lenoir home,” Wade said. “It’s great to coach where you played. I enjoy the atmosphere and the people — the folks in Deep Run, Pink Hill, Southwood — they know me, they know I’m a workaholic, and I’m going to try my best to get the best out of the kids.”
A 1984 South Lenoir graduate, Wade was a three-sport athlete in basketball, football, and track. After competing in college track, he returned to the area, working as a county building inspector while spending much of his free time coaching.
Wade began his basketball coaching career in the mid-2000s under longtime coach Jimmy Smith, later serving as varsity head coach for two years after Smith’s retirement. He continued to coach track and junior varsity basketball over the years before returning to the sidelines this season when Principal Elizabeth Pierce and Athletic Director David Combs approached him about taking over the varsity program.
“Coach Battle did a wonderful job with the kids,” Wade said. “But South has never really been a tall team. We’ve got to work hard. My goal is to make the kids realize that to build a winning culture, you have to play hard — and you have to win some games. When you start winning, everything feels better.”
Wade said he still leans on Coach Smith for perspective and advice.
“We’ve talked about how basketball has changed over the years,” Wade said. “He’s been in my life since I graduated. I’ll always lean on him and ask, ‘Do you see something I’m missing?’ He’s a special person to me.”
Looking ahead, Wade hopes to reignite excitement in the South Lenoir gym.
“It’s sad to see some games where the visitors have more fans than we do,” he said. “I want to bring basketball back to a level that fills the gym again.”
With deep community roots and a clear vision for rebuilding, Wade aims to lead South Lenoir back to respectability — and perhaps rekindle some pride in Blue Devil basketball.
