Faison headed to Smithfield-Selma HS

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on June 4, 2004 1:56 PM

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SMITHFIELD -- Smithfield-Selma High School will hire Former Spring Creek High School boys basketball coach Keith Faison as its new head basketball coach. A press conference announcing Faison's hiring is expected next week.

Faison, who left Spring Creek after the 2002-2003 basketball season, was an assistant principal at Goldsboro High School last year. He did not coach for the Cougars.

Faison said in a telephone interview this morning that he decided to get back into coaching because he missed it.

"It was a good experience going into administration, and that is what I plan to do in the future, but I really want to get back into coaching and guiding young lives," he said.

While at Spring Creek, Faison guided the Gators to two appearances in the state 1-A playoffs and dueled for the Carolina 1-A Conference title in both seasons.

He said the Smithfield-Selma program has always had talent.

"The last four or five years, they have not enjoyed the success they have had in the past," Faison said. "They had 10 wins over the last two seasons. But I feel like the talent is still there."

Faison will several players from his new team today.

"Then I'm going to branch out and see more of the kids throughout the summer," he said. "I understand a lot of the kids chose not to play. I'm hoping to meet them and persuade them to come back."

Faison said he would continue to live in Goldsboro. His wife, Tonya, will remain in her position as a teacher and coach at Goldsboro High School.