HIWASSEE DAM – Murphy native David Payne is stepping down as athletic director and girls varsity basketball head coach at Hiwassee Dam.
Payne will be taking his talents across state lines as he will continue his coaching career at Copper Basin High School in Tennessee as its boys varsity head coach. He said after 30 years in North Carolina, he still has something to offer.
“I still feel good and still enjoy what I do. And so, then the next step would be then to look at something in a bordering state that I could continue to do that," Payne said.
"And with Copper Basin having an opening and that just kind of working out, it wound up being a real good fit that I can retire in North Carolina, and then step over to Tennessee and work some more years there."
Payne added, “I love Hiwassee Dam. I love where I'm at. I love the people that I've been associated with, and it's been a good experience, but it's just time to take another step, and that's where I'm going to try to continue.”
After time as Tri-County Early College and Hiwassee Dam athletic director, he moved to full-time athletic director at Hiwassee Dam in 2018. He began coaching the Lady Eagles' girls varsity basketball team in the 2022-23 season.
Payne said the team in his second year coaching the Lady Eagles was fun to be a part of. The Lady Eagles went 23-5 and fell to Mountain Heritage deep in the state playoffs.
He added, “So you know, basically all of our teams, I mean, I've been really pleased and it's been fun to be on a journey with each of these young ladies, and I enjoyed my time. I appreciate their effort.
"You know, I felt like that they played hard for me and it always makes the coach look good when you got players that want to play for you. And I felt like they did that. And just to be able to watch them be successful. So I just appreciate their effort and their willingness to come in and work hard, and it felt like it was a good run.”
Under Payne, the Lady Eagles had four winning seasons, where they made an appearance in the state 1A playoffs.
During his last season as Lady Eagles' head coach, the team made it to the Elite 8 round, where they fell to Robbinsville – the eventual 1A state runner-up.
They ended the season with a 19-9 overall record as well as winning the Little Smoky Mountain Conference in their home gym.
“I just appreciate the community,” Payne said. “I appreciate the fan base at Hiwassee Dam and the administration and each and every one that supported me throughout my tenure here. I appreciate that and just wish them nothing but the best.
"We'll move on and cross paths down the road and hopefully there'll be some good ball games that I can come back and still be a part of here – but just in different colors.”