Shelvie Rose replaces Jevonte Holmes as new Memphis East basketball coach
Wynston WilcoxShelvie Rose realized his time at Overton High School was up.
What more could the Wolverines basketball program have asked for? Rose helped develop one of the area’s top basketball players into a mid-major Division I prospect and brought Overton its first basketball state title in March.
Now Rose is ready for a new challenge with a familiar team in Memphis East. Rose replaces Jevonte Holmes, who resigned from Memphis East on April 14.
“It was time,” Rose said of leaving Overton. “I’ve done my due diligence in the course, and we won a gold ball in the process. It was no better time to leave than now.”
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The timing was everything.
He told the senior class, which featured Jordan Frison, that he came in with them when they were freshmen and he was going to “graduate” with them this year as seniors.
Rose is no stranger to taking on teams in “rebuilding” phases.
East is traditionally one of the top programs in the Memphis area each year. The Mustangs basketball program has eight state titles in nine championship game appearances. They've reached the state tournament 15 times, with a 30-7 record at the state tournament.
In the last few years, there have been some administrative changes at the school, which is emphasizing more on a STEM program — science, technology, engineering and math — and has ultimately affected the basketball program. Rose had a similar challenge at Overton, battling with the performing arts program.
In his three seasons at Overton, along with a gold ball, Rose compiled a 65-35 record. He also won a city championship, regular season district championship and region championship this past season.
“It will be a challenge, that’s why I took the job,” Rose said. “Normally I’ve taken jobs that’s been in shambles. I love taking jobs like that.”
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.