Golden replaces Faron Key who left Hartselle for Wallace State:
GDW Analysis:
HARTSELLE: Hartselle High School now has a new basketball coach.
The city school board approved the hiring of Josh Golden to take over the Tigers after Faron Key resigned in May to become head coach at Wallace State Community College.
Golden has a quality resume with a career record of 377 wins and 246 losses.
Golden has been the head coach at Mortimer Jordan High School in the Morris area of Jefferson County since 2016.
The Blue Devils went 23 & 8 in the first year of the Golden era that included a 5A area championship.
Mortimer Jordan compiled 14 victories in the 2023/24 season.
“Coach Golden has always found a way to help his players compete at a very high level versus some of the top competition and toughest teams in the state,” athletic director Jake Miles said. “He has been successful at every stop along the way in his career and we feel the match between him and Hartselle High will be a great fit.”
Hartselle will see new opposition in 6A, Area 14. Aside from its long time rivalry with Decatur, the Tigers are joined in the area by Athens and Muscle Shoals.
A great rival to the Tigers on the hardwood, the Cullman Bearcats, got relocated to 6A, Area 13 with Golden's former school, Mortimer Jordan and the Jasper Vikings.
The Cullman vs. Hartselle series will continue from what Gameday Weekly understands.
The hiring of Golden brings the total to five new varsity coaches that will be in Morgan County for 2024/25.
Changes have taken place at Danville, West Morgan, Decatur while Priceville is waiting to fill its position that became vacant earlier this month when JR Dillbeck submitted his resignation.
Photo of a repainted Hartselle High School Gymnasium.
Photo courtesy of Hartselle High athletics.
