A new, but familiar face will be pacing the sidelines the next time Georgiana’s girls’ basketball team hits the court.

It was announced last week at the Butler County Board of Education meeting that John Cheatham will be replacing Ricky Sallie as head coach of the Lady Panthers.

Cheatham is no stranger to the Lady Panthers’ program. He previously served  as its head coach, and that experience was a key factor in his return.

Kirk Norris, Georgiana’s athletic director, said he is excited for Cheatham to get the chance to run the program again and for the young ladies to have such an experienced coach at the helm of the program.

“The selection of Coach Cheatham as the new girls’ (basketball) coach was easy when you look at his experience and success in the past,” Norris said. “He has held the position before and knows what it will take to be successful.”

Cheatham said that, perhaps more so than his own familiarity and experience with the team, it was his love for the program that spurred his decision.  He actually asked for the position himself.

“I’ve always liked the girls’ basketball program,” Cheatham said. “I wanted to make sure that whoever was coaching was someone that was really interested and wanted to put the time in to help the team move forward.”