Hepp hired as basketball coach at Holly Springs

Panther Creek High School athletic director L.J. Hepp is returning to the bench next winter.

Hepp has been hired as the boys basketball coach at Holly Springs High School, the school announced on Tuesday morning.

"Coach Hepp comes to us with a vast knowledge of athletics and basketball," said Holly Springs athletic director Rod Whitesell. "We are excited about Coach Hepp leading our program and our young men."

Hepp spent two stints as the boys basketball coach at Panther Creek. He was hired the first time when the school opened in 2006. In his third season, the Catamounts posted a 28-2 record and advanced to the eastern regional tournament in Greenville.

After the 2008-2009 season, Hepp left Panther Creek to become the director of basketball operations at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. That led him to a coaching opportunity in Japan, but he returned to Panther Creek as the boys basketball coach in 2011.

Hepp became the basketball coach at Panther Creek again in 2012 and stayed in the position for two seasons before focusing on his duties as athletic director.

Hepp replaces Richard Young at Holly Springs. Young stepped down earlier this spring to take the athletic director position at the new South Garner High School, which opens this fall.

Holly Springs, a 4A school in Wake County, is a member of the South Wake Athletic Conference.