HEATH FULTS

Most coaches hold several head coaching jobs before landing at their “dream” job.

For Heath Fults, who has spent 15 years as an assistant coach, his dream has come true sooner rather than later.

Fults — an assistant coach the past six years at Chapel Hill — has been hired as the new head boys basketball coach at Bullard, where he has lived since 2005.

“I’ve been in this business now heading into year 16 and never been a head coach,” Fults said. “I’ve been approached about head coaching jobs, but I was waiting for the right opportunity. I’ve been here a while and am already invested in Bullard, so I went all out to try to get this job when I heard it was open. It’s probably the best scenario I could have imagined.”

Fults began his career at Warren before going to Galveston Ball. Fults then spent six years at Bullard as an assistant coach in basketball and other sports.

After leaving Bullard, Fults went to Dogan Middle School for a year before landing at Chapel Hill.

Fults has spent eight of the past nine seasons as an assistant coach for Robert Sampson — two at Bullard and then six at Chapel Hill.

“I am excited for him,” Sampson said. “He was with me in Bullard and then joined me in Chapel Hill. He has been patient. A lot of coaches hop around a little bit, but he waited for the one he really wanted.

“I was fortunate to have him. I know he’s ready. He’s a student of the game.

It is going to be a bummer not having him around.”

Fults describes his brand of basketball as “in your face.”

“We’re going to mash the gas and go,” Fults said. “We want to have a full bench and get more kids out of the hallways and into the program. It’s going to be a different style. We are going to play fast, because that is how the game has evolved.”

Just like Fults is excited to be back at Bullard, the school is happy to have him on their staff.

“He was clearly outstanding, head and shoulders above everyone else,” Bullard athletic director Scott Callaway said. “His reputation and track record and the success he had as an assistant, I know he’s going to be an asset to our basketball program and our entire athletic department. We are glad to have him, and I’m expecting great things.”

Fults’ desire to coach at Bullard also played a factor in the hire.

“That definitely carried a lot of weight in the decision,” Callaway said. “Athletic directors will tell you that you want to bring someone in that wants to be in your community. We know he’s excited to be here, and we are excited to have him.”

“I like the community of Bullard,” Fults said. “It’s a great place to raise a family, and the school is awesome. I’m ecstatic that Coach Callaway gave me the opportunity to lead the basketball program and coach other sports, as well. I’m a big believer in coaching multiple sports and kids playing multiple sports, and I feel like our style of play will encompass that effectively.”

Fults and his wife, Holly, have two daughters, Hadison and Haizley. Hadison will be in the eighth grade at Bullard, while Haizley goes to school in Jacksonville, where Fults’ wife teaches.

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