On his knees – not in supplication for personal success or accolades, but in metaphysical communion with his players on the court as they played their trademark tough defense during this month’s Class 4 state tournament third-place-game victory over Owensville, Darren Smith, Chillicothe High School girls’ basketball coach since 2014 after a very successful decade guiding the boys’ program at his alma mater Meadville High, has been selected for enshrinement this spring in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. After not starting his coaching career until at age 39, Smith has racked up 435 victories in only 20 seasons with a winning percentage of 77.8%. (BUTCH SHAFFER/C-T LCL PHOTO)
By PAUL STURMC-T LCL Sports Editorpsturm@cherryroad.com Late-starting coach gets elite honor; assistant McKiddy also saluted If, improbably, school sports coaches are “a dime a dozen,”…
