Green Hope boys’ soccer, the defending 4A state champions, have tabbed former RailHawks assistant and professional soccer veteran Richard Huxford as its next head coach.

Huxford, as an assistant coach for the RailHawks during the 2009 season, played for professional teams in England and Scotland from 1992-2007.

The native Scot earned a degree as a sports scientist in 2008, which also interested Green Hope athletics director Wayne Bragg.

“Richard will not only bring his unique experience as a professional player and coach to Green Hope High School, but his expertise in sports science as well,” said Bragg in a statement. “The Green Hope community is very proud to have him as our next head coach.”

Huxford, who will be a non-faculty coach, replaces Andrew Chadwick. Chadwick, also a nonfaculty coach, made known his plans to step down after 10 years as coach before the 2011 season, which ended in the program’s first state title.

It’s the first of two state champion coaches that Green Hope has had to hire this offseason. There is still no replacement for Abby Mead, who coached girls’ lacrosse to an undefeated season last spring.

Nunn an all-American

Holly Springs 2012 graduate Erica Nunn was one of 30 softball players nationwide to be named an ESPN’s all-American last week.

Nunn, who will play at South Florida next year, helped the Golden Hawks to 4A state runner-up finish this past year. She was 22-5 as a pitcher, striking out 335 batters. At the plate, she hit .612.

Rodon man of the match

N.C. State sophomore and Holly Springs 2011 graduate Carlos Rodon earned Man of the Match honors for USA Baseball’s collegiate team by throwing seven innings and striking out nine in a 1-0 win Thursday against the Netherlands in Haarlem, Netherlands.

Rodon scattered six hits, improving his ERA to 1.42 through five appearances and 19 innings for the collegiate national team this summer.

Team USA finished with the bronze medal this weekend.

National debate

Confronting perceived inequities between public and private high schools was one of the hottest topics at this summer’s National Federation of High School State Associations meetings.

Forty-six of the 51 National Federation member associations have public and private school members and several associations, including the N.C. High School Athletic Association, have been asked during the past year to address questions about the private schools’ athletic success in what are primarily public school associations.

The NCHSAA has formed a committee to discuss public school-private school issues. The committee is expected to report to the NCHSAA board of directors in December.

Staff Writer Tim Stevens contributed to this report.