ShaRhonda Gipson has been hired as the new Natchez High School girls basketball coach.

Natchez-Adams School District officials announced the hire Thursday afternoon.

“I’m super excited to be taking on this new venture,” Gipson said. “It’s just been one of my ultimate goals to be a high school head coach.”

Gipson comes from a five-year position as a physical education teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson.

She was hired just a week after school board officials announced Kendria Young would fill the position.

Natchez-Adams School District public relations coordinator Steven Richardson said Young had been approved and hired for the position during a school board meeting on May 18.

Richardson said Young then resigned the position this past Monday, and the school board approved Gipson’s hire Wednesday at the school board meeting.

“We welcome Coach Gipson and look forward to her program,” Richardson said.

The Lady Bulldogs finished last season with a record of 9-16, winning the Region 6-5A tournament championship.

Gipson had previously served as an assistant coach for the Natchez girls basketball team from 2009-12 and since has coached many sports at Chastain including basketball, track and volleyball.

Gipson said she expects to have tryouts for the team under way by the first or second week in June.

“I’m ready to take on the challenge and ready to get everyone together,” she said. “We are going to go at it full force, and I’m excited about getting them ready and in shape.”