The head of Gray Collegiate’s basketball dynasty is stepping down after 10 years with the program to take a job as an NCAA assistant.

Coach Dion Bethea is resigning to become an assistant at Georgia Southern a source familiar with the move confirmed to the Chronicle. 

Bethea built the Gray Collegiate program from the ground up. In his 10-year reign, the coach earned six state championships, nine region titles and 273 wins. 

“After much prayer, I've decided it's time to advance and continue to invest in myself for whatever God has in store,” Bethea said in a press release. “I extend my thanks to my wife and children for their love and unwavering support. To both current and former players, their parents, and my incredible coaching staff, I am immensely proud of our collective achievements and the championships we've secured!” 

The coach brought in and developed many prospects who went on to play Division One basketball, including Tommy Bruner, the NCAA’s leader in scoring this past season. 

The move will reunite Bethea with two of his former War Eagle players, Avante Parker and Braylhan Thomas. Parker appeared in every game his freshman season at Georgia Southern, averaging eight points. Thomas will be a freshman next season.

The War Eagles are fresh off their sixth state title in seven years. After the game, Bethea did not shy away from saying a move could be on the horizon. 

“Y'all stay tuned,” Bethea said. “It's a lot of opportunities out there. I'm going to get with my wife and my girls. I'm going to get with my agent and my inner circle, and I want to see what's next for Dion, and see what's next for Gray as well.”

Bethea’s departure is another in a massive series of changes taking place within the War Eagle athletic department. 

In the past six months, the school promoted soccer coach Kevin Heise to athletic director and hired De’Angelo Bryant as football coach after Adam Holmes left. The school is also preparing to jump two SCHSL classifications and compete at 4A next season. 

“We appreciate Dion for his time and dedication to Gray Collegiate Academy, both as a staff member and head basketball coach,” Gray Collegiate principal Brian Newsome said. “He has built this program into a national powerhouse, and we wish him nothing but the best. The status of this program is elite, and that credit goes to Dion and his amazing assistant coaches and players. I am certain the interest in our program will be high, and we will hire the best person to continue this storied legacy of boys basketball at Gray.”

Bethea’s last day is officially May 31. The search for a replacement will begin immediately with an anticipated hire by June 1. 

“Gray will forever hold a dear place in my heart and always be home,” Bethea said. “It's not an ending. It's just the point in the story where you turn the page.”