Hilton Head Island girls basketball coach resigns after five seasons

Hilton Head Island girls basketball coach Sean Rochester is leaving the program after five seasons and two region titles as head coach.

Lowcosports.com was the first to report Rochester’s resignation.

Rochester told the Island Packet on Wednesday that he is likely headed to Philadelphia area.

“Philly is such a rich basketball area and even just networking through phone, e-mail and connections that I have, there are doors opening up,” Rochester said Wednesday. “I might teach and coach high school. .I might teach and coach at college level. I might just teach. I’m not sure yet but that will fall into place over the next few weeks.”

Before becoming head coach, Rochester spent seven seasons as an assistant on a few different levels.

The Seahawks went 43-81 during Rochester’s five years including 11-14 this season. Rochester’s best year came in 2016-17, his second season. Hilton Head Island went 15-10 and won the Region 8-4A title. The region title came a year after the team went 0-23.

Rochester won region coach of the year and Seahawks lost in the first round of the playoffs, 40-38, to Lakewood. Hilton Head also won the 2018-19 region crown and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Myrtle Beach.

Rochester coached 10 all-region players during his time with the Seahawks.

In addition to his coaching duties, Rochester headed up the expansion of the Seahawk Classic, which grew to 32 teams this year. He also formed Lowcountry Heat basketball development program last year.

Last year, Lowcountry Heat had more than 50 local girls (ages 10-18) from 18 different schools involved in our Skills Academy, 14U, 16U, and 17U travel teams. Rochester said he will remain involved with the Heat this summer.

This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 11:05 AM.