SPORTS &
 RECREATION
February 6, 2020
 

Meet Deron Donald, new head football
coach for the Smithfield-Selma Spartans

He comes to SSS High after four seasons as head coach at Cumberland County's E.E. Smith High School. During that time he took the Golden Bulls to two state playoffs, finishing with a record of 9-4 in 2017.

Over the four years at E.E. Smith, his record was 16-31, including a winless season in 2018. This past season his team lost most of its early games but ended the regular season by beating rival Cape Fear High 43-0 to qualify for the state 3-A playoffs. Losing to top-seeded Southern Nash in the first round, E.E. Smith finished the season with a 4-8 record.

Coach Donald has been coaching for 15 years in Cumberland County and also in his home state of Florida. He played collegiate football at Fayetteville State University, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 2005. He went on to earn a Masters in Special Education in 2010.

"I believe Donald will bring great and energy and passion for student athletes, and by all accounts he has a great reputation for building strong relationships with all students," said SSS Principal David Allen in a prepared statement. "Coach Allen stood out as the prominent candidate who can make our communities proud!"

Principal Allen noted during a press conference in the SSS auditorium Friday afternoon that more than 40 prospects applied for the head coach's job, with about a dozen called in for interviews. He said Coach Donald will be joining the SSS faculty in the near future as a teacher of physical education.

"I'm a Spartan now," Coach Donald told Friday's gathering, which included a number of SSS student athletes. "I've got it in my veins... and I'm excited."

"I understand there has been some turbulence" with the SSS football program in recent years, he continued. "But I do believe the sun is going to shine again."

Over the past decade, Smithfield-Selma's football team has lost 102 games while winning only eight, with four winless seasons and five one-win seasons. The last winning season for SSS was in 2008, when the Spartans went 7-5.

Coach Donald is married and has four adult children. He has served as a motivational speaker in the Fayetteville community, is a board member of Life Changing Mentoring, and an elder and board leader at Chosen Remnant Ministries.

Following Friday's press conferences, Coach Donald met privately with a group of SSS football players in the school library to get acquainted.

LISTEN to Coach Donald's comments to news reporters on HighSchoolOT.com>
HIGH SCHOOL SCOREBOARD


     WINTER SPORTS at SSS
Follow this link to view schedule of upcoming games & matches>

scores and stats from maxpreps.com
BOYS VARSITY

 Basketball

Friday, Jan. 31
   West Johnston
   Smithfield-Selma
Jaquan Dublin had 11 points,
Darius Faulk 10 for SSS
  
34
36


  
 
 
  
  
Tuesday, Feb. 4
   Cleveland
   Smithfield-Selma
Jalen Hinton had 21 points,
Elijah Weir 15 for SSS

 		    
74
54
Team's record: 2-19 overall
1-6 in Greater Neuse 3-A Conference
GIRLS VARSITY

Basketball

Friday, Jan. 31
   West Johnston
   Smithfield-Selma
K. Peacock had 28 points,
Zniah Thaggard 12 for SSS
   
33
49
 
   
Tuesday, Feb. 4
   Cleveland
   Smithfield-Selma
K. Peacock had 24 points
for the Spartans

 		    
32
47
Team's record: 11-9 overall
3-4 in Greater Neuse 3-A Conference



WINTER SPORTS at Neuse Charter
 Follow this link to view schedule of upcoming games & matches>

scores and stats from maxpreps.com
BOYS VARSITY

Basketball
 
Thursday, Jan. 30               
   Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
   Neuse Charter




 		  
32
95

    
Wednesday, Feb. 5             
   Neuse Charter
   Princeton
 

  

   
43
76
 
Team's record: 9-10 overall
2-6 in Carolina 1-A Conference
GIRLS VARSITY

Basketball
 
Thursday, Jan. 30               
   Southside Christian
   Neuse Charter
Daja Staten had 20 points,
Dargan Harris 12, Lynsey
Parrish 11 for the Cougars

 		   
27
57


    
Wednesday, Feb. 5             
   Neuse Charter
   Princeton
Anna Taylor had 23 points,
Dargan Harris 11 for the Cougars
 
   
46
48
Team's record: 8-5 overall
6-2 in Carolina 1-A Conference

Smithfield Parks & Recreation Activities

Boys Baseball Registration

Registration is under way now through Feb. 14 for Boys Baseball, Ages 7-15 (age as of 5/1/2020 determines playing category). Registration fee is $25 for Smithfield resident and $50 for non-Smithfield resident. Practices begin mid-March with games beginning in April. Registration fees are due at time of registration.

 

Girls Softball Registration

Registration is under way now through Feb. 21 for Girls Softball, Ages 7-12 (age as of 1/1/2020 determines playing category). Registration fee is $25 for Smithfield resident and $50 for non-Smithfield resident. Practices begin in April. Registration fees are due at time of registration.


Daddy-Daughter Dance Saturday, Feb. 22
 Registration is under way now through Feb. 14 for the 23rd annual Daddy-Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center. From 7 to 10 p.m. couples will enjoy musical entertainment, dancing, appetizers, and a photo booth. Registration fee is $45 for Smithfield resident couple and $55 for non-Smithfield resident couple. There's a $5 charge for each additional daughter.


For more information about these and other activities,
visit the Smithfield Parks & Recreation website>
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