NEWPORT NEWS, VA., June 17, 2010 – Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Apprentice School has named Franklin Chatman, a long-time area high school basketball coach, Head Men's Basketball Coach.  Chatman joins the Apprentice School Builders after serving as the coach at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy for the last two years.

"We are excited to offer Coach Chatman the opportunity to lead our men's basketball program," said Keisha Pexton, the school's director of Athletics.   In a very competitive candidate pool, his professionalism, passion for preparing young men for leadership in our company and community and overall coaching philosophy made him the best fit for our program.  I am certain that he will be a great addition to our Apprentice School athletic staff."

For the last two seasons, he was the head coach at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.  While there, his teams participated in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools and played a schedule loaded with regional power private schools.  Two of his former players have gone onto NCAA Division I athletics at Marshall and South Carolina.

Also in the last six years he's been serving as the 16-under Elite Traveling Team coach for the Boo Williams' AAU program.  He has had 26 players go through that program and move onto NCAA Division I schools.

Chatman was an assistant for the Apprentice School men's team in the 2005-06 season where he assisted with planning and running of practice, game preparation, recruiting, video breakdown and eligibility review. 

His coaching in the area began at Suffolk's Nansemond River High School in the 1999-2000 season.  While at Nansemond River for five years, he coached a powerhouse Warrior squad that was a perennial regional tournament participant.  Several of his former players went onto various levels of post-secondary education including Virginia Commonwealth University, U.S. Naval Academy, Elizabeth City State University, Hampton University, Norfolk State University.  He also coached three former Apprentice School players - Eric Joe, Fred Spratley and Thomas Scott. 

During his five years at Nansemond River, he was named Eastern Region Coach of the Year for the 2001-02 season.  He was also a two-time Southeastern District Coach of the Year winner and won Suffolk Coach of the Year honors four straight years.

"It has always been a dream of mine to become a collegiate head coach," said Chatman.  "For it to happen where I got my first collegiate coaching job at The Apprentice School, I couldn't be happier."

Chatman is a graduate of Virginia State University with a bachelor's degree in business education in 1994.  While at Virginia State he played three years for the men's basketball team.  His teams made the CIAA Tournament final once and lost in the semifinals once during his playing days.  He earned a master's degree in administration and supervision from Old Dominion University in 2003.  Chatman and his wife Sonya are the parents of two sons – Franklin, II (12) and Tyler (9).

The Apprentice School provides high quality, comprehensive four and five-year apprentice programs for students interested in shipbuilding careers. Since 1919, the school's programs have produced over 9,000 graduates in support of the operational needs of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.  For additional information on the school, visit www.apprenticeschool.com.   For additional information on the athletic program, visit www.gobuilders.com.