When Dawson County High School Lady Tigers basketball coach Steve Sweat retired, he commented on how "Dawson County [had] been really good to [him]."

It must have been especially good, because Sweat keeps returning to the system - this time coming out of retirement to do so.

"I'm back and glad to be back," he said. "I wanted to keep coaching, so I talked to the administration and they told me there were ways to do that. So, once we worked everything out with teacher retirement rules, we got it all set up."

Sweat announced his retirement in April of this year after a 30-year high school coaching career. His contract ended June 30.

"After the separation period required by the teacher retirement guidelines, I came back after Aug. 1 and the board hired me back on a 49 percent position," he said. "They said if you're good with that, we're good with that and it sounded great to me."

Among many other accomplishments, Sweat coached the Lady Tigers to a history-making, undefeated regular season in 2015.

Sweat spent 10 seasons as girls coach at Dawson County from 1984-94 before leading the West Hall High girls basketball program for 12 seasons.

In 2006, he returned to Dawson County, having transformed the women's basketball program to one of the top in the region.

"We're looking forward to a great season. We had a good summer and went to four different camps," he said. "The girls looked good and hopefully we can put all what we've done this summer into the fall league. We're rolling right along."

As part of his part-time rehiring, Sweat will be splitting Hightower Academy credit recovery teaching duties with another returning Dawson County veteran, former Robinson Elementary Principal Roxanne Howard.