SOUTH CHINA -- Erskine Academy selected one of its own as varsity boys basketball coach, the school announced this week.

Former junior varsity coach Ben Willoughby, a 1994 graduate of the school, was hired to replace Tim Bonsant, who resigned recently after 13 years as head coach to take the varsity boys job at Cony. Willoughby, who also coaches track and field at Erskine, was a logical choice to replace Bonsant, according to Erskine athletic director Doran Stout.

"It was really a pretty easy decision," Doran Stout said. "He's been with our program as a player and a coach and he's a teacher in our school."

Willoughby coached the freshman boys for four years followed by four years with the junior varsity. He played under Stout at Erskine and later for Jim Graffam at Westbrook College.

"Really I've always wanted this job," he said. "This has always been my dream, not only to be a head coach but to be a head coach at Erskine."

Willoughby expects to follow many of the principles he learned under Bonsant, especially at the defensive end of the floor. The Eagles, who currently play in the Class B division of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, are on the cusp of returning to Class A. This year, however, they'll compete in Class B with a number of talented opponents, including Camden Hills and Rockland.

"I think we're going to play a lot of teams this year that are very talented," Willoughby said. "Gimmick defenses can sometimes be the great equalizer when you're playing a more talented team."

The Eagles return a good nucleus of players from last year's 10-8 team including Devon Veilleux, Garrett Holt and Nick Grady. But Willoughby is reserving judgment of his team's prospects until he sees them in tryouts.

"I didn't run the summer program," he said. "I've got some decent players coming back, I just don't know how much they've improved."

Under Bonsant, the Eagles were one of the more competitive teams in Class B and won a Class B state championship in 2004.

"I learned an awful lot under Tim," Willoughby said.

Stout said a JV replacement for Willoughby has yet to be hired. He's also unsure whether Willoughby will continue coaching track.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com