2012

Choctaw names new girls hoops coach Bill Smith didn't stay retired long. After his retirement as the women's basketball coach at East Central Com– munity College was approved last. week, Smith was named the new girls basketball coach at Choctaw Central earlier this week. He will replace Willis Tullos, who was informed he wasn't going By Jamie Wachter jwachter@themeridianstar.com

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helm of the program he helped lead to three state championships. Jennie Vance led the Warriors there in 2010, her second season as head coach. "They have a good nucleus coming back," Smith said. "And there is a young lady moving in from Florida that will help. ' "They expect to win and to get back to the state tournament in Jackson. They expect you, to win and if you don't, they will be looking for someone else pretty quickly.'' To keep that winning going, Smith sai•P· Choctaw will still play its up-tempo, presBing style. However, he indicated there would be some alterations as well. "We'll-make a few changes," he said. ":But we will still be run and gun and press a good bit''

to be retained shortly after the Warriors were eliminated in a Class 3A state semifinal. The longtime ECCC coach - both the men's and women's programs - is looking forward to returning to the prep sidelines.

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"It was a good opportunity for me to change career paths a bit," he said. "They've had some great teams come through there and it's a good opportu– nity." In four years at the helm of the ECCC men's basketball program, Smith went 42-66. He then switched to coaching the ECCC women in 2005, compiling a 101-79 record that included an NJCAA Region 23 champi- -' onship in 2007-08. Prior to heading to Decatur and ECCC, Smith spent 16 seasons at Neshoba Central, where he led the APP girls basketball team to an overall record of 388-151 along with six divi– CAR sion championships and a state title. "I get to go home and still be able to _ NEV\ coach," Smith said about heading to Choctaw. He will take over a top program SPIJ; when he gets there. The Warriors have advanced to the Class 3A state MER tournament at the Mississippi Coli–

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seum each of the past three seasons, playing for the state championship in 2011. Tullos took Choctaw there in each of his two seasons back at the See SMITH on page 82