First Posted: 9/11/2013

LUMBERTON — With opportunity comes great sacrifice, something Lumberton High School’s Tripp Satterwhite learned Tuesday after he was approved by the Cumberland County Board of Education to become South View’s new athletic director and assistant principal.

Delivering the news to friends and co-workers he has known for nearly two decades as a member of the Pirate family was the hard part.

“I’m super excited about the move to South View, but it’s kind of bitter sweet,” Satterwhite said. “The worst part about leaving is telling our coaches goodbye. You get to know each of everyone one of these people personally, folks you see on a daily basis. It’s a tough situation.”

Satterwhite graduated from Lumberton in 1996 and played for several current coaches at the school including Danny Graham, Paul Hodges and Mackie Register. He returned as a staff member in 2006 before becoming the school’s athletic director in 2010.

Satterwhite’s move won’t be final until the Public Schools of Robeson County approves his resignation at its next meeting on Oct. 8. At that point, an interim athletic director will be named before Satterwhite’s successor is chosen in November.

“I love Lumberton, but the opportunity to be an assistant principal as well as South View’s athletic director was too much to pass up,” Satterwhite said. “South View’s a great school with a great tradition and it looks like it would be a fun place to work. It’s close enough that I’ll be able to commute and not have to move.”

Satterwhite was instrumental this offseason in bringing West Bladen High’s Joe Salas to Lumberton as Mike Brill’s replacement on the gridiron. At the time of Salas’ hiring, Satterwhite said he wanted a coach that could compete for Southeastern Conference championships and build on the foundation Brill had set with six consecutive trips to the postseason.

The news of Satterwhite’s departure to Hope Mills comes a few days after South View snapped a three-game losing streak to the Pirates with a 42-16 win at Lumberton.

“Everybody’s been real understanding and knows it’s a good situation for me,” Satterwhite said. “I have nothing but great memories here at Lumberton.”

Reach staff writer Brad Crawford at 910-272-6119 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MrPalmettoSDS.