Posts tagged ‘Donald Holmes’
New Memphis City Schools A.D. says ‘It’s all about the kids’
By Dr. Jesse F. McClure | Published 07/30/2008
David “Smokey” Gaines is the new Athletic Director for the Memphis City Schools. For Gaines, his new position is but the latest stop in a journey that has taken him all over the world.
For the past three years, Gaines – a former Harlem Globetrotter – served as men’s basketball coach and athletic director at LeMoyne-Owen College. While he enjoyed his time at his alma mater, Gaines said, “I am really excited about working with youngsters who attend Memphis City Schools and having the opportunity to improve their lives. It is all about the kids.”
Gaines is replacing long time city schools’ athletic director, Wayne Weedon. Gaines’ assistant will be Northside High School athletic director and girls’ basketball coach Donald Holmes. Both men declined to comment on any of the past controversies surrounding athletic programs in the city schools.
“I am only looking forward and not backwards,” Gaines said, referring to Memphis City Schools.
Gaines, however, does look back to trace the connection between education and athletics in his life. “All of the successes I have had in my life are a result of my education and my education has come because of my involvement with athletics,” he said.
He wants students to succeed both in their schoolwork and in their sports.
“Too many athletes are not succeeding in school and do not have options after they finish playing. I had options and I want all our student athletes to have options.”
Gaines earned his Bachelor of Science degree at LeMoyne-Owen and a Master of Arts degree at Eastern Michigan University.
Parents can expect to hear from Gaines whosaid he will try to get them more involved with the school system’s athletic programs. And while Gaines said it is too early for him to get specific about program changes, he’s looking forward to working with the Memphis Redbirds in supporting baseball and softball programs.
Gaines and Holmes are both avid golfers and would like to get younger students learning to play. Gaines says they will explore opportunities to work with the First Tee program in Memphis.
A native of Detroit, Gaines first came to Memphis in 1959 to attend LeMoyne -Owen and play basketball for legendary coach Jerry C. Johnson. After leaving LeMoyne-Owen, Gaines became a world traveler, playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. He was the Globetrotters’ “dribbling whiz” before “Curly” Neal.
After almost four years with the Globetrotters, Gaines played in the old American Basketball Association (ABA) for a season. He returned to Memphis when his playing days ended and spent a year as an assistant coach at LeMoyne-Owen. Later, he served as an elementary teacher, high school teacher and as an athletic director for a Job Corps program.
Gaines big break came in 1973 when he joined then University of Detroit head basketball coach and current ESPN basketball analyst, Dick Vitale. After serving four years as Vitale’s assistant, Gaines became head coach at Detroit in 1977. He had two successful seasons in Detroit and joined the ranks of John Thompson, Fred Snowden and George Raveling as one of the few African-American head coaches at Division 1 colleges.
In 1979, Gaines left Detroit to become head basketball coach at San Diego State University. He broke the hearts of many Memphis Tiger fans when he successfully recruited West Memphis high school basketball star,Michael Cage. At the time, most observers thought Cage would take the short trip across the river to play for the Tigers.
“When Michael saw the San Diego State campus, the ocean and students sun bathing, I knew he would be playing for me,” said Gaines.
Cage became a star at San Diego State followed by a long and successful career in the NBA.
In 1987, Gaines left coaching to become an assistant athletic director at San Diego State. Two years later, he joined the NBA’s Denver Nuggets as a professional scout. He left the Nuggets in 1994 and until moving to Memphis in 2005, headed a number of business ventures in San Diego and Las Vegas.
“All of my experiences will help me in my new position with the Memphis City Schools,” Gaines said.
David
Kids emerge as victors in ‘bout’ between mayor, superintendent
By Jesse F. McClure | Published 07/24/2008
Memphis Mayor Dr.W. W. Herenton and new Memphis City School Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash met last Friday at Ridgeway High School in what was billed as an event “settling their differences on the court.”
They met before more than four hundred youngsters attending the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness Basketball Clinic and more than one hundred spectators. The face off on the basketball court between Dr. Herenton and Dr. Cash was happening at the same time lawyers for the city and lawyers for the school system were in Chancery Court fighting over a proposed cut in the city’s funding for schools.
While the lawyers were arguing in court, Dr. Cash and Dr. Herenton engaged in a good-natured competition – first with boxing gloves and then with basketballs. Both men said the purpose was to show students and the community that they will work well together.
Ninth District U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen was an interested spectator as was City Council member Janice Fullilove.
Besides the mayor and the superintendent, the person who drew the most attention was former University of Memphis basketball star and head coach Larry Finch. Finch, who was disabled by a stroke several years ago, was greeted warmly by many of those in attendance.
Leonard Draper, one of Finch’s closest friends, said, “Sometimes Larry does not like to go out in public, but he was really excited about seeing the youngsters play ball here.”
The “competition” between Dr. Herenton and Dr. Cash was limited to each shooting a few free throws and demonstrating shooting skills.
Dr. Cash first showed some pretty good ball handling and to the delight of the boys and girls, hit several three-point shots. Not to be outdone, Dr. Herenton wowed the crowd with several strong drives to the basket and then hit several long jump shots.
The on-court session ended with the two men showing team work by demonstrating give-and-go plays for each other. Northside High School, athletic director and coach, Donald Homes, declared the competition a tie.
Both men then gave short “pep talks” to the boys and girls attending the basketball clinic.
Dr. Herenton shared familiar words of his grandmother who told him “get something in your head. Get a good education.” He reminded the youngsters that “no one can ever take your education away from you.”
Stay in school and stay away from gangs and drugs, said Dr. Herenton, who also expressed his support for Dr. Cash as the new head of the Memphis City Schools.
Dr. Cash said he is excited to be in Memphis and that he looks forward to working with Mayor Herenton. In his talk to the boys and girls, Dr. Cash stressed behavior. He urged the students to take their schoolwork seriously, but to also take their behavior seriously.
“What you do is what you are,” he said.
Mayor, superintendent ready to ‘shoot’ it out
By Jesse F. McClure | Published 07/17/2008 | News | Rating:  |
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Mayor, superintendent ready to ‘shoot’ it out
The Mayor of Memphis and the new superintendent of the Memphis City Schools will settle their perceived “differences” in court – with a basketball. Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton and new superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash will compete against each other on Friday, July 18 at Ridgeway High School at 11:30 a.m. According to Northside High School athletic director, Donald Holmes, the basketball game is a friendly way to demonstrate that the two leaders will be supportive of one another. Dr. Herenton, a former Memphis school superintendent and a former college basketball player, would appear to have the edge in the game, but we are told that Dr. Cash loves competition and will give the mayor a challenge. The match comes in the wake of competing lawsuits over funding of Memphis City Schools. The event is open to the public. |
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Fundamentals still at core of seasoned basketball program
| By Jesse F. McClure | Published 06/19/2008 | Sports | Rating: |
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The 475 youngsters, ages 10-19, participated in the first of four, weeklong basketball clinics as part of the Shelby Metro Sports and Awareness Program. The program is the brainchild of Donald Holmes, the athletic director and girls’ basketball coach at Northside High. The City of Memphis Summer Youth Initiative funds the program, which over the years has involved thousands of area youngsters in the skill building sessions. The other three clinics are being held at Carver High School, Ridgeway High School and Kirby High School. Area coaches and college basketball players staff the program. Holmes says the goal is “to provide each boy and girl instruction in the fundamentals of basketball.” From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day, the players worked with coaches in groups and one on one. During the final day on Friday, there were free-throw shooting contests as well as 3-on-3 games. Xavier Henry, the number one high school recruit in the nation, made a brief appearance. Dozens of colleges are recruiting the 6’6” shooting guard from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma. In town for a basketball camp at the University of Memphis, he did not participate in drills, but showed off his shooting skills on a side basket in the Northside gym.
Several college coaches came to observe, no doubt on the lookout for future talent. A new assistant coach at the University of Memphis, Orlando Antigua was among those who stopped by. Antigua, who moved to Memphis a week or two ago, appeared to enjoy watching the youngsters go through their drills. He was the first Latino player on the Harlem Globetrotters. Also watching the action was David “Smokey” Gaines, the current LeMoyne-Owen coach and former coach for University of Detroit and San Diego State. Gaines also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. The highlight of the closing session was a rousing talk by Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie.W. Herenton. A former college basketball player, Herenton stressed the need to get a good education and stay away from gangs and drugs. “If you get a good education, you can be somebody,” said Herenton quoting his grandmother. The mayor said education changed his life and urged the boys and girls to follow his example. Participants enjoyed a brief exhibition game between staff coaches and the Memphis Blues of the World Basketball Association (WBA), an exposure league that gives former college players an opportunity to show their talents to scouts from professional leagues, such as the NBA, NBDL, CBA, and international leagues. The session ended with an awards ceremony in which boys and girls received trophies for outstanding performances during the week. copyright tri-state defender 2008 |
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I Am Building A Program Not Just a Team
Donald Holmes, like most African-American men in Memphis has always loved basketball. Holmes is the coach of the Northside High School Lady Cougars basketball team and has been the Memphis Coach of the Year nine times. Last year the Lady Cougars were runner-ups in the Tennessee state basketball championship.
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But Holmes’ first love has always been golf – the sport his father got him started in when few African-Americans played the game. He attended Mississippi Valley State University and played on the golf team there.
A two-time All-American golfer, Holmes once shook up the Mississippi golf world, forcing the state’s intercollegiate golf championship to be moved from a private to a public course to allow an African-American to play. Holmes went on to win the tournament.
After several years of trying to make a living as a golf professional, Holmes in 1987 accepted the position as the girls basketball coach at Northside High School. The program Holmes took over was not good. In his first year, Holmes’ team finished with 15 wins and 15 losses. Since then Holmes’ teams have won 20 or more games for 19 straight years.
Holmes is more proud of the success his players have had in the classroom than the games they have won. Almost all of his current team are honor roll students. The starting five players on the team have an average grade point of 4.0. Jasmine Rayner, the number one student in senior class at Northside High, is a star player for the Lady Cougars.
“Northside players know that school comes first with coach Holmes,” said Rayner.
Over the years, Lady Cougars have received scholarships from colleges across the country. Holmes’ office has photographs and posters from colleges such as The University of Memphis, Ole Miss, Jackson State, Xavier, Alabama Birmingham, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Colorado and Mississippi Valley. His players have received scholarships from all of these and more. Many of his former players are now coaches and teachers at schools throughout the region.
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| Northside Lady Cougars coach Donald Holmes is more proud of the success his players have had in the classroom than the games they have won. (Photos by Jesse F. McClure) |
“I am building a program, not just a team,” says Holmes. “(A program) helps team members become strong women, not just basketball players.”
Strong women help create strong families and strong communities is the way Holmes sees it. He loves coaching girls because they are often more receptive to coaching than boys, he says.
Each summer Holmes’ has a basketball camp. Thousands of youngsters have attended over the years. NBA star and Memphis legend Penny Hardaway has been a big supporter of Holmes’ efforts. Last summer WNBA star Ashley Shields took part in the camp.
Holmes credits his mother, who is a minister, and his father for helping him develop his passion for helping others.
Copyright Tri-State Defender 2008
