A Coach Who Cared Back: Eastside’s Chamness announces retirement after 22 years

Tom Chamness glances at some of the hundreds of basketball photos taped to the cabinet doors in his office.

Tom Chamness’ office resembles something of a vintage basketball museum.

On his cabinet doors are endless pictures taped up from his past 22 years of coaching. They show Chamness’ progression from youthful and eager to the more seasoned, composed version of himself his current players have come to know.

“Some of my players come in here and make jokes about how much younger I used to look, and how old I am now,” Chamness says, laughing.

He opens his desk drawer to reveal stacks of old newspaper clippings from the past two decades. Throwback articles tell the tale of when Chamness was first hired as head coach at Eastside in 2002. 

They showcase the stories of some of his best players and teams—including his 2013 and 2017 squads that made appearances in upper state championships.

Chamness still reads the newspaper often, a trait that speaks to who he’s always been. He loves looking back. He’s classic, old-school. 

Chamness is what one might call a hopeless nostalgic, enthralled by things and events of the past.

He’s far from a fan of letting go.

That’s what’s made his last two weeks so hard.

“See, it’s kind of a ‘double whammy’ for me,” Chamness says. “I’m a nostalgic person anyway, but I’m also a history teacher. I love the past. I typically hold on to things for as long as I can.”

On March 5, Chamness officially announced his retirement as head coach of Eastside basketball. 

In his 22-year tenure, Chamness made two upper state championship game appearances and one state championship appearance. He compiled a record of 319-225 and was named Region Coach of the Year three times.

He finished 18-6 in his final year at the helm.

“I feel like now is just the right time,” Chamness said. “People don’t see the amount of time and dedication it takes to run a program. They see what happens on game day, but they don’t know what you’re doing over the summer and in practice and film study. It just takes a lot out of you.”

Chamness also says that with such a big senior class graduating this year, it will give his successor a chance to blossom with a young team and take them to new heights. And while it’s clear to him that his time to step down has come, he’s still anxious to walk away.

“I’ve been ‘Coach Chamness’ for 30 years. The idea of walking away from that is frightening. It’s like the guy from Shawshank Redemption who says ‘I’m institutionalized, man!’ To walk away from this is a little scary. 

“At the end of the day, I’m so grateful that Eastside took a chance on me 22 years ago, even though I had no experience. But there was always going to be a last practice for me, a last game. It was inevitable.”

CALL ME MAYBE

Kyle Van Hoff is one of a select few. He’s seen two sides of Chamness, both as his player and, for the past seven seasons, as his assistant coach.

Van Hoff played for Chamness at Eastside from 2009-2013.

“He’s my favorite coach I ever got the chance to play for,” said Van Hoff. “He was always easy to talk to. I could count on him as someone I could reach out to for anything. He’s kind of like a dad to me.”

In 2017, Chamness hired Van Hoff straight out of college to be his assistant coach.

“After I graduated from college, I saw there was an opening at Eastside for an assistant basketball coach. I asked if he’d consider hiring me, and he said he’d be more than happy to. I’ve had to privilege to coach alongside him for the last seven seasons.”

Tom Chamness and Eastside assistant coach Kyle Van Hoff.

Van Hoff was a vital part of Eastside’s 2013 team — the group that made it to the state championship before narrowly falling to Hartsville. He calls his career playing for Chamness “one of the best memories of his life” and recalls a story about the seemingly reserved Chamness.

“I can’t remember which year it was, but I was playing for Chamness, and he was driving me and a few of my teammates to a summer camp at Wren High School. He turned his radio up, and all of us players were in the back of his car singing ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen loud and proud,” said Van Hoff, laughing.

“Tom just turned around smiling, looked at us, and shook his head. I think we were embarrassing him a bit, but it was so funny.”

It’s a theme amongst his former players. Chamness may come across as strict and reticent at times. But once you get to know him, they all say, you’ll find he’s quite the light-hearted goofball.

It’s one of the things they love the most about him.

“You look at him, and you might not think he’s a super jolly guy,” said Eastside star Justin Ray, who just finished his senior season with the Eagles. “But when you get to know him, he just cracks jokes all day long. He’s always got a smile on his face, such a happy guy.”

‘MY SENIOR NIGHT, TOO’

On Eastside’s senior night just over a month ago, the Eagles faced off against Wade Hampton and honored the team’s five seniors.

As the senior Eagles walked across the floor with their families, several other players looked over at Chamness and became confused. 

Tears filled Chamness’ eyes. He’d done senior night 22 times. What was so emotional about this one?

“I love this senior class, so that was part of it,” said Chamness. 

“But deep down, I knew it was my senior night, too.”

Chamness’ decision to make this year his last came before the 2023-24 season even began. His sentimental side kicked in throughout the year.

Every away trip to a region school — places like Wade Hampton, Greer, and Riverside — would be the last such trip Chamness would take. He knew it each time.

After Eastside took down eventual region champion and state runner-up Riverside at their place, Chamness touched the walls before leaving the Warriors’ court just to soak it all in.

“I won’t coach at this place or that place again. I’d remind myself of that every time we had an away game,” said Chamness. “I had a lot of moments like that throughout the year.”

After Eastside was knocked out of this year’s playoffs by Lancaster, reality set in for Chamness. 

He’d just coached his final basketball game.

“He teared up when he was talking to us in the locker room after the {Lancaster] game,” said Ray. “He gave us a speech, and before we left, he looked at all of us and said ‘I’m really going to miss you guys.’

“After he said that, I think I knew.”

“I kept my decision quiet until the season ended because I never wanted those last few games to be about me,” said Chamness. “I wanted it to be all about our seniors.”

STEP THROUGH THE DOOR

Chamness got the chance to personally inform his team of his retirement before he released his announcement. 

“I wanted them to have the opportunity to hear it from me. I felt that responsibility, especially with the underclassmen,” said Chamness. “And it was scary. Because up to that point, it was just theory. I knew I was going to walk away, but actually telling the team and stepping through that door, that was hard.”

For Chamness, it’s always been about his players first. He rarely gets emotional, save for when he talks about the kids he’s coached. 

So, when asked how he hopes those players remember him, it’s little surprise that a few more tears fell from his sentimental sights. 

“Hopefully, they remember me as someone who cared. Because that’s true.”

Chamness wiped his eyes as he thought of the nearly 200 Eagle basketball players who came through his program.

“I’ve dedicated my life to this game and these kids. And I feel very strongly about all of them. I’ve always wanted nothing but the best for this school and these kids. Every single one of them. Everyone that’s come through here, I know they cared about this team, and they cared about me. 

“I just hope they remember me as someone who cared back.”