Allison Jones took over as Washington girls’ basketball coach in 2007, inheriting a team a decade removed from its last playoff berth.

Seven years later, Jones, who was appointed athletic director in 2009, is stepping down from her position and moving on, leaving behind an established program she built from the ground up.

Jones, a graduate of Washington High School, has accepted a position as a health and physical education teacher at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, while also taking over the Vikings girls’ basketball and golf programs. While current Athletic Director Scott Braswell takes a leave of absence to recover from back surgery, the former Washington AD will fill in and assist in overseeing athletic administrative duties.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to return to the school that I graduated from,” Jones said. “I had such committed teachers and coaches when I was in high school. It’s part why I went into teaching and coaching to begin with. I was fortunate to be a part of that and work with some very talented individuals during my time there.”

As an athletic director, Jones served as conference president twice. As a coach, she navigated the Pam Pack girls’ basketball program to six playoff appearances in eight years at the helm.

“I coached so many great kids and I always enjoyed watching young girls grow into adults,” Jones said. “It’s an honor to be able to have coached and taught those girls.”

Jones will take over a Class 4-A basketball program that finished with a 14-12 record last season.

Jones says her decision to accept the Hoggard position was to be closer to her family. Her son Josh, a former quarterback and basketball standout at P.S. Jones, will enroll in Hoggard as a freshman this fall.

“I look at this as a new season, a new season in life,” Jones said. “It seemed like a good time. It was unexpected but too good to pass up. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”