Fewer varsity head coaches are as inclined to leave their post this summer, and some suggest the economy as a chief reason behind it.Wake County athletics directors are having to fill fewer vacancies than in recent years.

As a result, coaching staffs are remaining largely intact from a year ago.

Apex has only had two varsity head coaches change from last year. Panther Creek and Middle Creek each have had only one.

Green Hope will have just three new varsity head coaches next year after having almost twice as many to fill a year ago.

Many athletics directors, including Fuquay-Varina's Bruce Hemphill, suppose it's because of the economy.

"With the economy the way that it is, I think more people and more teachers are more willing to stay and keep their jobs without looking outside for something else," he said. "There are no guarantees even if you leave your current school, that you can get a job at another school. That's keeping more teachers/coaches where they are."

Fewer coaches leaving is a good thing for athletics departments. But when fewer teachers at the school are leaving also, filling a coaching position becomes harder.

An interested candidate who would like to work at the school may not always have a position available.

Fuquay-Varina promoted Jeff Pagel from junior varsity volleyball coach to head coach and hired art teacher Rachel Broadbend to coach both tennis teams.

Green Hope's Steven Gursslin received a promotion to head wrestling coach, as did Middle Creek's Kevin Benson for girls soccer.

Panther Creek's Nathaniel Blaylock will coach girls tennis in addition to the boys.

Holly Springs was able to offer new girls basketball head coach Richard Young a teaching position, as was Green Hope with new football coach Kwame Dixon.

New Apex girls basketball coach Jay Huffman was already a WCPSS employee at two nearby elementary schools. Athletics directors would rather a head coach also teach at the school, but sometimes that's not always an option.

"All of us are having to be more aware of coaches that are outside your school," Hemphill said. "There are many advantages to having coaches within the school. They get to see the kids every day and keep up with their academics in a place where they get the pulse of the school each day too."

Green Hope athletics director Mickey Bissette said it's hard to speculate on why people move each year, but he's noticed that fewer coaches are leaving this year.

"It's been a little bit better this year since I did have several varsity spots to fill last year," Bissette said. "It's just one of those cyclical things where you've got people who are ready to move on and others who are trying to hold on to their job a little longer."