Randleman finds new boys basketball coach right here in the county

RANDLEMAN — When a new coach takes over a high school basketball program, there’s usually the “We have to change the culture” chatter from that new head coach.

But when Brad Monroe stepped into the head varsity boys basketball position at Randleman High School last week, he was well aware the culture at the school has been a strong point for many, many years.

“The community, the standard that has already been set there,” Monroe said of the positives of becoming the Tigers’ head coach. “No matter how talented or untalented, the standard is the standard. There is such a structured organization. I hope to add to that and continue the culture they have.”

Monroe takes over for Daniel Mitchell, who is moving to Iredell County after the school year is complete. Mitchell finished his RHS varsity boys career with a 220-120 record, having won at least 15 games in 10 of his 14 seasons.

RHS Athletic Director Jake Smith said there were plenty of candidates to choose from and the administration certainly did its due diligence before offering Monroe the position.

“He’s got experience, he’s had success where he’s been, he’s a great leader and a great motivator,” Smith said of Monroe. “He checked off all the boxes.”

Monroe spent eight seasons, from 2016 to 2023, as the head boys basketball coach at Uwharrie Charter Academy, compiling a 98-90 record with five winning seasons.

“The things I care about perfectly align with the things Randleman already cares about,” Monroe said. “The philosophies align. I love man-to-man, but if we can’t do that, we have to pivot. It’s important to be a chameleon, willing to change.”

After scoring more than 1,000 points during his high school career and graduating from Eastern Randolph in 2008, Monroe had four impressive seasons at Guilford College

As a freshman, he was one of the first forwards off the bench, ranking second on the team in blocks. 

As a sophomore, he averaged 16 minutes off the bench and had an impressive ODAC Tournament, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds against Virginia Wesleyan in the semifinals before adding eight points and adding six rebounds in the Quakers’ championship win over Randolph-Macon.

He started 15 games as a junior, averaging 5.0 points per game and adding 5.3 rebounds. And in his senior campaign, he set single-game career highs in points (17) and rebounds (17). He earned the team’s Coaches’ Award and was named to the ODAC’s Sportsmanship Team. 

He played in all 116 games over his four-year career.

He then spent eight seasons at UCA, acting as the school’s athletic director as well for a period before joining the staff at The Point, a college preparatory and leadership academy in the High Point/Jamestown area. The school was a member of the Greater Triad 1-A/2-A Conference,