Update: More on New Hope coaching situation

New Hope Academy founder Isiah Anderson confirmed Monday the school has removed Sam Sutton as its athletic director and boys' basketball coach.

The decision, Anderson said, owed little to Sutton's coaching performance, and more to Sutton's lack of administrative experience.

"Sam's a good young coach, and a school will be lucky to have him," Anderson said. "It was really more about getting some more leadership (at athletic director)."

Sutton was removed from both posts at New Hope's school board meeting last Thursday.

Anderson wouldn't comment on specific reasoning for Sutton's firing. He said the school has already hired a new athletic director, Anthony Hall, who formerly held the same post at Hanover.

Anderson said he would be open to the idea of Sutton reapplying for the basketball coaching position. Sutton could not be reached for comment.

A former standout at William Penn, Sutton coached the Mighty Ants during their first two years of existence. New Hope finished 17-3 this year and won its first District 3 Class A playoff game.

"As I look back on it, I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be," Anderson said of starting the program. "Scheduling, gym space, all the little things people take for granted. Overall, it's challenging. We did all we could to make it as smooth as possible."