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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - Greenbrier owner and billionaire Jim Justice might be the busiest man in West Virginia.
If he becomes the state's governor, the 64-year-old Justice will be busier than ever.
Not willing to surrender his duties as boys and girls basketball coach at Greenbrier East, Justice said, "I'm going to absolutely coach," during Thursday's first round of the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic.
He'll add that to a growing number of duties if Justice, who changed his political affiliation from Republican to Democrat in February, replaces Earl Ray Tomblin as the state's governor. Tomblin became active governor in 2010, won a special election in 2011 to fill the term that ended in January 2013 and was elected to his first full term in November 2012.
Justice had guided the girls program for the Spartans since 2000, compiling a 276-92 record with 11 sectional titles, nine regional crowns and the 2012 state champions. Justice has also been the boys coach of the Spartans since 2011 with a 72-27 mark. His 2014-15 team upset top-seeded Capital in the Region 3 co-final before falling to eventual state champion Huntington in the state tournament.
In addition to his duties on the basketball court, Justice is the man behind the Greenbrier Classic, the PGA Tour event that is contracted to be part of the Tour's schedule through 2021. He's also working with World Golf Hall of Fame players Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino to build a fifth golf course on his property in White Sulphur Springs with the hope of luring the U.S. Open to the tiny Mountain State hamlet. The Greenbrier resort has three courses - the Old White TPC, Greenbrier and Meadows - while the Sporting Club has the Snead Course.
Justice didn't hesitate when asked if he planned to continue coaching both teams at the high school in Fairlea.
"The good Lord willing and the creek doesn't rise, I'm going to coach," he said. "I sure am."
Daily Mail staff writer Marcus Constantino contributed to this report.