Smith retiring from coaching after a career spanning four decades

Smith retiring from coaching after a career spanning four decades

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After 40 years of coaching basketball, Bill Smith has decided it’s time to retire.

Smith has been the head coach of the Choctaw Central Lady Warriors basketball team for the past 10 years. His teams have always been ranked among the top teams in the state and brought home three state championship trophies.

“I knew I wanted coach at an early in life and it worked out pretty well,” Smith said. “Forty years is enough. There were exciting times and sad times.  Overall, it was a pretty good career.’’

A native of Neshoba County, Smith graduated from high school at Neshoba Central. He went on to East Central and then graduated from Delta State. Later, he earned his Masters degree at Southern Mississippi.

Smith’s coaching record stands at 847-332. His teams won four state championships and played in six finals.

Smith started his coaching career at Philadelphia High School. He left there to move to Texas where he coached one season at McKinney. After one season, he came home to become the girls coach at Neshoba Central 1983. He led the Lady Rockets to a state championship in 1990 and was there 16 years.

Smith moved on to East Central Community College where he coached the men’s and then the women’s basketball teams over 11 seasons. One of his women’s teams advanced to the national junior college tournament. 

So, what does Smith plan to do in retirement?

“I’m going to play a lot of golf, do a little fishing, cut grass and play with my grandkids,” Smith said. “My wife, Susan, is retiring from  East Central. If we get the notion to go somewhere, we can get in the car and go.”






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