2001

coach from E u;t Central's district. "His next challenge is to move the men's basketball program to the next le\·el, and I feel confident he will be able to do that," Sutphin said. Smith, whose Lady Rockets amassed a 388-151 record during his 16-year tenure, said, "I appreciate the opportunity given to me and look for– ward to getting to work as soon as possible. I am also looking forward to a new challenge and working hard to make the men's basketball program here at East Central the best it can be." An obvious highlight of his success– ful career at Neshoba Central was winning the State Class 4A Championship in 1990-91. The Lady Rockets were also division champions that year and finished season action with a 36-4 record. Last season the Neshoba Central girls won the district title and advanced to the State 4A semifinals en route to a 28-11 mark. In all, Smith's teams have won six district titles and finished district runners-up on five occasions. Prior to joining the Neshoba

Central staff, Smith served as junior varsity men's bas– ketball coach and varsity basketball assistant at

0 East Central CC adds 3 new coaches on basketball staff A successful coach on the high school level has been tapped to lead the men's basketball program at East Central Community College in Decatur. Billy Smith. who h~ ~uded the Neshoba Central Lady Rockets since 1985, was introduced Tue;:,day as the new Warrior head basketball coach at a news conference held at the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Buildmg. Smith, 40, --.ucceeds Jay Bowen who resigned in August to take an assistant coaching posit1on at Austin Peay State university in Clarksville, Tenn. In making the announcement, ECCC President Dr. Phil A. Sutphin said the College was very fortunate to hire someone who has had success on the high school level and is also a

McKinney (Texas) High School during 1984-85. He is also a former graduate assistant at the .._____ .....;...~ University of ECK Southern Mississippi (1983-84 ) and ~arsity men's basketball assistant and head freshman basketball and f?otball coach at Philadelphia high and ele– mentary schools (1982-83). A graduate of Neshoba Central High School, Smith attende.l East Central Community Colleg· and received a bachelor's degree in physi– cal education from Delta State University. He holds a master~ degree in physical education fro~ the University of Southern Mis~tssippi and has a master's degree in adminis– tration from Jackson State Uru""ersity. He is married to the former Susan Lankston of Edinburg and ha:< three

a basketball camp sponsored by the Philadelphia 76ers. He is a 2001 graduate of Clarion. where he received a bachelor's degree in speech communication and theah·e. Alone with Eck, East Central also added Toby Bush as a women's assis– t tant coach , recently. Bush will help with recruiting and player development and will provide assistance in the Student Services area. Prior to joining the East Central staff, Bush served as head student manager at the University of Mem– phis for the past six years. Bush has coached AAU basketball and has served as an assistant coach for basketball camps at held at the University''of Memphis and at the University of Mississippi. Bush was an honor graduate and -

children , Andy, a senior at Neshoba Central; Chandler, a second-grader; and Mackie, who's in kindergarten.

EC adds two

Along with a new head coach, East Central's men also h ave a new BUSH assistant.

Shane Eck was recently named men's assistant, announced athletic director Terry Underwood. Eck areas of responsibility include

recruiting, scouting and player super– vision in regards to academics and APPEARED IN: dorms. He will also work in the Stu– LAKE MESSEN dent Services area. SCOTT COUNT Eck was_ at ~lario~ _D~iversity in Pennsylvarua pnor to JOmmg the East

basketball standout at Bartlett --- ----– (Tenn. ) High School. He continued his -------– athletic career at Northwest Commu- nity College. - - ---- -- He graduated cum laude from - - - ----–

UNION APPEAl Central staff. WINSTON COU

At Clarion he served as student assistant for men's basketball and

SPIRIT OF MOF also has been involved in basketball NEWTON MES! camps, serving as coach and camp

Memphis in 1999 with a bachelor's in physical education and received his master's in sports marketing in 2001.

organizer. He most recently provided assistance as coach/head counselor for