Johnston named new GCHS girls basketball coach; retirements announced at School

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Grayson County High School Principal Todd Johnston said after Thursday night’s School Board meeting that Travis Johnston had been selected as the new head coach of the GCHS Lady Cougars basketball team.

Johnston replaces the highly successful Daniel Pharris who resigned in mid-May to pursue a career in administration.

Johnston, a 2010 graduate of GCHS, is the high school’s boys basketball program's all-time leading scorer, with 2,284 points, and was a five year starter for the Cougars. He is also the all-time assists leader for the Cougars with 647 career dimes.

His senior year at GCHS, Johnston averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while playing for his uncle, Todd Johnston.

He was a two-time all-state selection, and was named Third Region Player of the year in 2010. Johnston signed to play college basketball with Division II power Kentucky Wesleyan College, but suffered career-ending knee and ankle injuries. He transferred to WKU where he completed his academic career.

“He has big shoes to fill, because Daniel was awesome,” Todd Johnston said about the hire. Pharris, who led the Lady Cougars for three seasons, compiled a 64-30 record (.681 winning percentage) while roaming the sidelines, and last season coached the Lady Cougars to the program’s first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.

Travis Johnston has served as assistant coach to boys head coach Kelly Carwile for the last two seasons, while also serving as head coach of the boys junior varsity team.

He teaches health and physical education at the high school, and is married to the former Kelsey Jo Blanton, of Leitchfield.

Retirements

It was announced at the School Board meeting that long-time secretary at the Grayson County Technology Center, Teresa Buckles, is retiring effective July 31.

School Board Chair Carolyn Thomason said Buckles “was a great asset to the district; she was a great secretary, and she’ll be missed.”

Also retiring is Tina Kiper, who served as secretary at the Central Office. Her retirement is effective September 30.