ROCKINGHAM — Nearly a decade has passed since Josh Calhoun last laced up for the Richmond Senior High School basketball team, and now the first-year educator feels he’s right where he’s supposed to be in a new role.
The 27-year-old physical science teacher returned to his home court this year to start his journey in the classroom and serve as Richmond’s junior varsity boys’ basketball coach.
A former three-year varsity player for the Raiders, Calhoun’s love for the sport and his community brought him back to the hardwood where he first learned to be a leader.
“I always knew I wanted to be a coach,” Calhoun said as he watched the JV Raiders warm up at Monday’s practice. “It’s funny because the two people who inspired me most are Bootsy (Pettigrew) and Taneika (Reader).”
Calling them his mentors, Calhoun was coached by Reader as a youth basketball player with the Richmond Jammers growing up. While Calhoun was in high school, Pettigrew served as an assistant coach for the Raiders.
Now Pettigrew is the varsity head boys’ basketball coach in his sixth season and Reader is in her second year as an assistant with the varsity girls’ program.
“They were both such a big influence in my life when I was younger,” Calhoun recalled. “They taught me so much of what I know and much of what I’m able to teach as a coach.”
As a point guard for Richmond, Calhoun served as a team captain during his sophomore and senior seasons. He credited his position as a floor general and his captaincy as other factors that helped prepare him to become a coach.
Although he never scored more than 18 points in a high school game, or never received any postseason accolades, Calhoun went on to have an illustrious career at Pfeiffer University.
After graduating from Richmond in 2013, Calhoun played in 110 games for the Falcons, starting 92 of them between 2014 and 2018. He finished his career as a point guard in the top 10 of several statistical categories in program history, including scoring with 1,665 points (15.1 points per game).
Calhoun averaged 24.4 points per game his senior season, which at the time was the sixth-highest single season average in program history.
His career-high of 46 points against William Peace University on Dec. 31, 2017, was four points shy of tying Pfeiffer’s single game record. Raining down 10 three-pointers in the win, Calhoun did tie the program record.
Following his final season, Calhoun was named a First Team All-American by Basketball Times. He also was recognized as First Team All-State and Second Team All-ECAC.
A three-year captain for the Falcons, Calhoun was using his time and experience on the court to prepare himself for a future career as a coach.
With a sports management degree and a coaching minor, Calhoun got his first job as a middle school coach at Gray Stone Day School during the 2018-19 season.
Following an off year because of the pandemic, he was promoted to the JV head coach in 2020-21 and also served as a varsity assistant.
While shaping his coaching craft in the early stages, Calhoun worked as a shift leader at a warehouse. This, too, he said, was a building block in understanding what it took to be a successful coach.
Last year, Calhoun got an opportunity to return to Richmond County when Pettigrew offered him a spot on the Raiders’ staff as the head JV coach and a varsity assistant.
“There were two reasons why I came back, and the biggest was I wanted to be with my son,” Calhoun said of his seven-year-old. “The older he was getting, the more I felt I needed to be in his life every day.
“And Bootsy really helped me out by giving me a chance to be on the coaching staff,” he continued. “Becoming a teacher has been a really good opportunity. I’ve been able to connect with my students and I try to teach them that the goal in life is to follow the rules.
“The most enjoyable part of life is that if they try hard and take it seriously, it’s a cycle that can take them anywhere they want to go.”
Over halfway through his first season with the JV Raiders, Calhoun has coached his team to a 9-1 record. Averaging 59.0 points per game, the JV Raiders are 4-0 against Sandhills Athletic Conference and suffered just one five-point loss during a holiday tournament.
“This season has been great with the wins and losses, but there are still some areas we need to grow in,” Calhoun explained. “Little things like wanting to play for each other and making easy shots.
“We have a special connection because a lot of the guys on the team I’ve watched grow up and they watched me play in high school and college.”
Describing himself as a “players’ coach,” Calhoun said the success at any level begins with a coach building a rapport with players that goes beyond just set plays and defense.
“I’ve learned that there are different ways to address certain players in certain situations,” Calhoun said, “but cheering someone on, no matter what, is always a positive that can lead to him playing his best.”
Calhoun often demonstrates this during games by vocally hyping up his players, celebrating the small victories and high-fiving them after a big play as they return down the court.
Acknowledging the grind that comes with any season, the long hours and bus trips, the repetition of practice and the intensity of games, Calhoun said he wouldn’t trade the chance to be where he is for anything.
“Coaches can be a lot of things, and I think it’s most important to be a positive influence,” Calhoun shared. “Living in a small town, I want my players and students to know they can be anything and do anything as long as they work for it.
“I use my story of never making all-conference in high school and how I was a 1,000-point scorer in college. I want kids to realize that as long as they use their work ethic, results will come.
“Being able to give back to my hometown is a blessing,” he closed. “I always didn’t have someone putting in the extra effort with me, so I want to do that for them. I want them to understand they’re blessed and encourage them to take advantage of whatever situation they’re in.”
Calhoun and the JV Raiders (9-1, 4-0 SAC) will play their only game of the week on Tuesday at Lee County High School, starting at 4:30 p.m.
