Panther Creek coach L.J. Hepp leaves for position at the University of South Carolina

Panther Creek basketball coach L.J. Hepp resigned from the school on Monday to accept the Director of Basketball Operations position at the University of South Carolina, Panther Creek AD Todd Schuler confirmed to The Cary News.

Hepp, who was previously an assistant at Stanford and Tulsa and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UNC, had been the Catamounts' coach for all three years of the school's existence.

In his and the school's first season, Panther Creek finished 4-18. In the second, the Catamounts finished 22-7 and won the Tri-Eight Conference Tournament after finishing second during the regular season.

Then this year, Panther Creek went 28-3, spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the statewide 4-A poll, won both the regular season and conference tournament titles, and made it to the East Regional Semifinal.

The team ended its season there with a 60-44 loss to Jack Britt as two starters (Auburn signee Earnest Ross and point guard Brandon Oliver) sat out their second consecutive game after being suspended for disciplinary reasons.

Panther Creek released the following statement: 

"We're excited for Coach Hepp and his family.  Coach Hepp has done an exemplary job of working with our student-athletes, as both a teacher and as a coach.  We're proud of what Coach Hepp and his staff have been able to accomplish in three years, and we're confident that we can build on this success.  We wish Coach Hepp the best of luck.  He's a very capable coach with a bright future." 

Calls made to Hepp were not immediately returned.