COURTLAND—Former Chowan University basketball coach and Franklin resident Jim Tribbett has been hired as Southampton Academy boys’ basketball coach.

Tribbett, 58, replaces David Gibbs, who was offered a job on the coaching staff after being head coach the last two years.

Tribbett, who has 163 collegiate wins, coached at Chowan from 2002 to 2010 before a blood clot resulted in the loss of his left leg while vacationing in Florida. He spent the last two years recuperating.

“I still have a lot left in the tank to give,” he said. “This opportunity arose and I’m grateful.”

SA Athletic Director Dale Marks couldn’t pass on bringing in a collegiate coach.

“I think the world of David Gibbs, I think he’s an extremely hard worker,” Marks said. “By no means is this saying to David that you weren’t doing a good job.”

From 2000 to 2002, Tribbett was director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Brevard Blue Ducks of the U.S. Basketball League. Before that, he was head coach at East Robertson High School in Cross Plains, Tenn., and was a college basketball scout in Nashville.

Tribbett is excited about the upcoming season. He said players like Zach Best, Tonee Hill, Matt Rose and Cam Hines will be important to the team’s success, but added that it will take players buying into a new system to make a successful team.

“We’ve got some pieces,” Tribbett said. “This thing isn’t going to be built overnight. We’ve got to build a foundation and go from there.”

His 17-year-old son, Johnny, also will play for the team.

Tribbett’s wife, Sally, teaches at Riverdale Elementary.