NATCHEZ — ACCS athletic director Paul Hayles didn’t have to look very hard for the Rebels next girls basketball coach.

The answer was just a few miles across town.

Trinity girls coach Melanie Hall has agreed to become the next coach of the Lady Rebels, effective at the end of the current school year when her contract with Trinity expires.

Hall had been the coach for the Lady Saints for nine years and led them to the South State Tournament this past season.

Hall will take over for Hayles, who led the Lady Rebels on an interim basis following the resignation of Billy Britt in December.

“We feel like coach Hall is the kind of coach we were looking for all along,” Hayles said. “She’s a Christian and a proven winner. We have a young program that will take a lot of work but she’s the type of coach you can turn a young program over to and have complete faith it will have success.”

Hayles said that bringing in a proven winner like Hall to coach the team has generated lots of excitement with the girls on the team.

“I can’t justify their feelings with words,” Hayles said. “Having a coach of her caliber come into the program is very exciting for the players.”

This will be Hall’s second tour of duty at ACCS. She coached there before heading up Trinity’s girls team..

Hayles said Hall was the person he focused on from the start of the coaching search.

“We had a short list of candidates and she was at the top of it,” Hayles said. “We went through the interview process and had a long interview with her to make sure it was a right fit. It just felt right for both sides.”

Hall, who also coaches the Trinity track team, declined to comment. Hayles said in addition to her girls basketball head coaching duties, she will also assist in cross country and track at ACCS.

Trinity athletic director David King said a search for Hall’s replacement is well underway.

“I want to wish coach Hall the best of luck but also assure the Trinity faithful we’ll get a top-notch coach to take over the program as soon as possible.”

King said he has already interviewed a candidate and said a decision should be made by the end of next week.

“Coach Hall built the girls program up to respectability in her time here and we’re appreciative for that,” King said. “Now we’re looking for an individual to continue that and bring it up to date with the boys program.”

But while Trinity is still in the searching process, Hayles is confident that he got the perfect person for the ACCS job.

“We knew we wanted to have a high-level person to lead the program,” Hayles said. “We’re excited about having her a part of the ACCS family.”