Vikings boys basketball under new leadership

The Union Pines Vikings boys basketball team is under new leadership this season. 

In the world of sports at any level, it can take years of paying dues, hard work, and proving yourself to get to the top job of a program. This was no different for Vikings Assistant Coach Zachary Marks. 

Marks, who is a Moore County native, played at Pinecrest High School. He has been an assistant coach at Southern Alamance High School and at Union Pines High School under Nick Boney since 2018. With coach Boney leaving to take the head coaching spot at Providence High School, the time has come for Marks to take over the head coaching position. 

“I’m very excited,” said Marks. “I can’t put it into words. A lot of people throughout the years were there to help me along the way. There were a lot of good coaches before me, and I have been surrounded by a lot of good coaches.”

Marks played at Pinecrest under coach Mike Apple who is now coaching championship teams at Sandhills Community College. 

Marks is being handed a team that Boney has spent the last several years building. The Vikings finished last season 18-8 overall and made it to the state championship tournament. 

The Vikings only have one senior returning next season and only four players returning. This will be a new team under new leadership. 

“I’m looking forward to the guys to step into their new positions and seeing them grow,” said Marks. “Some are moving into positions they have never played.”

Marks and the Vikings are looking to make a run for the state playoffs for the third season in a row. 

Feature photo: Zachary Marks, Union Pines High School boys basketball coach. Photo provided. 

Sandhills_Sentinel~Article by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.

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