Greg Wilson left the Augusta State women's basketball program last year partly because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He's returning to coaching for the same reason.

Wilson is the new girls basketball coach at Westminster, the Augusta school announced Friday. He said a big reason he agreed to take over the Wildcats is that his sons, twin boys Carter and Tanner, loved the school when they recently shadowed a student. They will start seventh grade at Westminster in the fall and join the school's new middle-school football team.

"The old saying is: once a coach, always a coach," Wilson said. "I knew when the ball went up last Oct. 15 it would be different. ... I had no intentions of getting back into coaching, (but) this opportunity made itself available when (Westminster) partnered with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

"I can still do this and remain close with my kids."

Wilson, 140-119 in nine seasons at Augusta State, left the school to become director of the Greater Augusta Fellowship of Christian Athletes on April 1 of last year. He will remain in that position.

"It won't change at all," he said. "I had no desire to leave here."

Wilson, the first area coach to lead a team to the Division II Elite Eight (2004), said he was working with Westminster athletic director Mike Freace to increase FCA's involvement with the school about six weeks ago when he found out the girls basketball position was open. Before accepting the position, he allowed his children to tour Westminster.

"They loved it; they were singing its praises," he said.

Wilson has never been a high school head coach. His father coached at a private school in northeast Georgia that he said was a lot like Westminster.

"I know people around here who get misty-eyed talking about (Westminster)," he said. "I want my kids to have that kind of experience."

Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.