By DAN BISER

Clarence Ganus, who has previously coached at the middle school, high school and junior college levels, has been named new head boys basketball coach at East Columbus High School.

The 48-year-old Ganus takes the position vacated by Mark Bridgers, who was recently named to the ECHS principal position following the retirement if Reginald Lewis. This past season, Bridgers coached the Gator boys squad to the school’s first Waccamaw Conference boys regular-season championship. The season also included the conference tournament championship and a 17-game winning streak.

Ganus will retain his position as student services specialist and athletic director at Southeastern Community College. The past two years, he has served as boys basketball coach at Waccamaw Academy. He has previously coached basketball at SCC, Hallsboro High School and Central Middle School.

Ganus is a native of Hallsboro and was a standout basketball player at Hallsboro High and UNC-Pembroke.

Ganus, who becomes the fourth Gator boys coach since ECHS opened it 1992, said he feels he is taking on a very favorable situation at East Columbus as several experienced players will return from last year’s conference championship season, including starters Jerry Moore, Jim Freeman and B.J. Patrick. His son C.J. will be a junior on the Gator varsity this coming season.

“I have a lot of support from the people in the area and I know all the members of the coaching staff very well,” Ganus said. “Coach Bridgers has done an outstanding job with the boys basketball team and I hope that I can help keep things going in a positive direction.”