HUNTINGTON -- Less than two weeks before high school boy's basketball practice begins in West Virginia, the Huntington Highlanders finally have a head coach.

On Tuesday evening, the Cabell County Board of Education accepted the recommendation for former assistant coach Ron Hess to become the Huntington High head coach.

"Coach Hess has been a part of the program for the last few years," Huntington High athletic director Bruce Senior said. "He has a great mind for basketball and a great relationship with the kids. He'll be a great replacement for coach (Lloyd) McGuffin to lead Huntington High in a new direction."

Attempts to contact Hess for comment were unsuccessful.

Hess succeeds McGuffin, who resigned in October after taking a one year leave-of-absence on the day before practice started last year.

At that time, Baker Neal was named as interim head coach and led the Highlanders in an 11-13 season.

Neal was also interested in the job but once McGuffin's resignation was official and the interview process for a permanent coach took place, the search committee submitted Hess to the board of education.

Hess has been an assistant at Huntington High for six years, including five years under McGuffin and last season with Neal at the helm.

During that time, the Highlanders won three consecutive Class AAA state championships from 2005 to 2007 and featured players such as current Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo and University of Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson, a 2009 preseason All-American.

Prior to his time at Huntington High, Hess served as head coach and athletic director at Huntington St. Joseph.

Huntington High's boys basketball team opens practice Nov. 16. The regular season in West Virginia gets underway Dec. 8.

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