Selma High School will have a new basketball coach next season.

Coach Ronald Lane said he is stepping down as Saints coach for health reasons. Lane informed the team days after the season ended.

“I’m resigning as coach because of my health, I’m a diabetic and I have a three-year-old son,” Lane said.

Lane said he will remain a teacher at Selma High. He teaches in the Business Education Department.

Lane coached the Saints for three seasons, compiling a 44-36 record. Under Lane, Selma won three straight Area championships.

“We captured three straight area championships,” Lane said. “We never reached Regionals. But the kids are progressing, and that’s huge.”

Lane said he has a lot of great memories of the Selma High basketball team. He was a standout basketball player at Selma High in 1983. The Saints had a chance to compete for the state championship. He also served as a volunteer coach in 1994 when the Saints won the state championship.

“Selma High is my alma mater and I wanted to help bring the basketball program back,” Lane said. “I enjoyed coaching the kids. I will always support students and programs at Selma High School and Selma City Schools.”

Southside basketball coach Lenord Jones and Lane were teammates at Selma High. Jones said Lane’s qualities go beyond the basketball court.

“Ronald Lane is a good person and man of character and integrity,” Jones said. “I hate that he’s stepping down. He’s a good Christian man, hard worker and someone who inspires you. He’s gotten the kids off the streets and involved in the community.”

After graduating from Selma High school, Lane had several opportunities to play Division I basketball, but he joined the Air Force and spent eight years as an air traffic controller before returning to Selma.

Lane coached at three other schools in the Queen City:  Central Christian Academy, now known as Ellwood Christian Academy, R.B. Hudson Middle School and Wallace Community College-Selma.