FPD has a new boys basketball coach

          FPD has a new boys basketball coach.

          The school announced Friday afternoon the hiring of Gavin Chapman, head coach at Brewton-Parker.

          “He understands the mission of our school, and he has a passion to help develop young student athletes into young men of character,” athletics director Greg Moore said in a release.

          Chapman graduated from Brewton-Parker in 2011, was a grad assistant at Eastern Kentucky, and then spent a year assisting the women’s program and then the men’s program.

          He took over the men’s program in August of 2014, and the Barons went 35-78 in four seasons, going 14-14 in his first season.

          The graduate of Oconee County and wife Tabitha have two young children.

          “I believe FPD is the perfect place and environment for my family to grow, my kids attend school and for me to continue doing what I love, which is serving youth through athletics,” Chapman said in an FPD release.

          Chapman takes over for Michael Walton, who resigned in early March after four seasons. Walton also had some college experience, serving as head coach at Wesleyan for three seasons. Walton went 47-38 with the Vikings.