Arlington High School Principal Shannon Abraham has selected a familiar face in Shelby and Fayette County sports to lead the AHS Boys Basketball team. Anthony Smith, who currently coaches basketball and serves as an administrator at Fayette-Ware High School, will take the helm as head coach for the Tigers next season.

“Coach Smith possesses outstanding integrity and will serve as an exemplary role model for our students and athletes,” Abraham said. “Few coaches can match his wealth of experience, as he is an accomplished teacher and successful coach, in addition to holding credentials as a school administrator. His diverse background provides him with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to run a successful basketball program.”

At Fayette-Ware, Coach Smith is also known as Assistant Principal Smith, having held that position since 2018. There, he also serves as the assistant varsity girls coach and head coach for the middle school boys team. Prior to his time at Fayette-Ware, Coach Smith was the boys head coach for Bartlett High School from 2012-2015, when his team increased the number of wins each of those seasons. Although he left coaching for a short stint from 2015-2018, Coach Smith’s passion for helping develop student leaders continued as he taught physical education at the Bartlett Freshman Academy.

“First, I want to thank God and Principal Abraham for giving me the opportunity to be a leader of young men,” Smith said. “My motto is to ‘be the best version of you on and off the court,’ and I take that seriously. I’m coming in ready to work. My main goal when I come in is to set the culture, get involved with all the stakeholders that help make up this community and to develop relationships with them. I love the tradition of Arlington and what it stands for. I’m ready to be a part of it.”

The AHS Tigers are excited to have Coach Smith on board and look forward to seeing what he’ll accomplish in the upcoming season!