AYDEN—Veteran baseball coach and athletic director Chris Ross retired from Ayden-Grifton High School at the end of June, according to a report in the Kinston Free Press.

          Ross had coached baseball at Ayden-Grifton for 29 years, including 28 appearances in the NCHSAA playoffs, and served as athletic director at the school for five years. He taught civics and economics at the school.

         Paul Cornwell, football coach at the school, will assume the athletic director duties.  He actually played for Ross while he was in high school.

         Cornwell graduated from Ayden-Grifton in 1987 and started at the school as an assistant football coach in 2004. He was elevated to the head position the following year.