Goldsberry tabbed as new SR girls coach

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South Ripley girls basketball has a new leader as Brad Goldsberry was named the new Lady Raider varsity head coach on Monday night.

Goldsberry becomes the 15th varsity head coach in program history and replaces Matt McNew who resigned after five years at the helm. McNew put together a career record of 75-49 during that span and led South Ripley to three-straight Class 2A Sectional 45 titles from 2021-2023.

“Dream job, dream school,” Goldsberry said in a Facebook post following the hire. “Blessed to be surrounded by a supportive wife, kids, family, friends and coaches that have helped me get to this point in my journey.”

Goldsberry has yet to be a head coach at the varsity level but has most recently served as South Ripley’s junior varsity girls head coach and a varsity assistant to McNew in addition to his position as girls and boys varsity golf coach. His coaching experience also includes time spent in 2016 and 2017 as the JV boys basketball coach at Jac-Cen-Del under then head coach Travis Stangland and that was followed by a two-year stint as JV girls basketball coach at South Dearborn.

Other basketball coaching positions for Goldsberry included middle school stops at Tri North in Bloomington, Jac-Cen-Del and South Dearborn. He has spent the last three years running the girls basketball youth program at South Ripley which spans grades three through six.

“Excited to continue to build upon the work that has already been laid ahead of me,” Goldsberry added in his post. “South Ripley has been led by some amazing coaches and my goal will be to keep building the program. Looking forward to the opportunity.”

South Ripley finished 14-9 this past winter and won the Ripley County Tournament. The Lady Raiders will be without the services of its four 2024 seniors but the cupboard will be far from bare in Goldsberry’s first season which is already underway with summer basketball here in the month of June.

Five from last year’s varsity roster are anticipated to return for the green and white which includes a pair of starters in Claire Samples and Lexi Franklin. The Lady Raiders are also hopeful for the continued development of the underclassmen which will be a mix of freshmen and Goldsberry’s returning junior varsity players.