Presbyterian Christian School announced the hirings for its girl’s basketball and softball head coaching positions.
Former assistant coach Drew Smith was hired as the girl’s basketball coach to replace Matthew Lofton.
“I’m beyond excited to be back at PCS. I’m home. No one wants to see this program succeed more than me, and I can’t wait to get that process started with the young ladies in this program. I have the privilege of working with family members, former teachers and old friends. God has blessed me throughout my coaching career and life, and He continues to do so by bringing me back home,” said Smith.
Coach Smith is a PCS alumnus and former assistant to long-time PCS girls basketball Coach Missy Bilderback. Following Smith’s four years as an assistant coach at PCS, he became the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Lamar Christian School in Purvis with a compiled 72-28 record, won district titles and helped guide the program to the Overall Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history.
Following his time at LCS, Smith became the Head Girls Coach at Parklane Academy with a record of 27-9 in his first season and brought them to the program’s first Overall Tournament Final Four appearance in 14 years. Following that season, Smith also assumed the responsibilities of Head Coach for the Parklane Boys team, as well. In that season, Smith guided the girls’ team to its first State Championship game appearance in 15 years and their second consecutive Overall Tournament appearance. He led the boy’s team for an appearance in the Overall Basketball Tournament Final Four, and finished the boy’s team season with a 24-10 record.
Following a successful stint at Parklane, Smith once again became Bilderback’s assistant-this at Jones College. In his one season at Jones, Smith helped Bilderback guide the team to a 28-3 record, MACJC state title, Region 23 championship, and an NJCAA Sweet 16 appearance in Lubbock, Texas.
Smith comes to PCS after one season as the head coach of the girl’s basketball program at East Rankin Academy in which his team finished 11-11. Smith has an overall record of 161-79.
“We are really excited about getting Drew back,” PCS Athletic Director Rob Shillito said. “He is a PCS grad and even helped as an assistant when Missy Bliderback was still here, so he’s got a great PCS pedigree as far as women’s basketball goes. He has been successful everywhere that he has been.
“I’ll be honest, one of the things that I’m most excited with Drew is not inherently what he does but who he is. He is a standup Christian man. In his interview, he was telling different ways he will help do in the athletic department. That’s one of the things that really set him apart from the other candidates. He and Coach Lofton are also great friends. Coach Lofton saying his graces helps the PCS world. I think he is going to be a great fit and a great coach. We consider ourselves fortunate to have him on board.”
The softball program also hired its assistant coach Harry Blakeney as its new head coach. Blakeney replaces Conswayla Bourne, who chose to step down after two seasons. Bourne will notably remain with the school and will continue her assistant coaching duties with the girls’ basketball program.
“The thing with Harry is that he is a softball guy,” Shillito said. “He has a couple of travel softball teams that he has coached for two years. He is on the Oak Grove association athletic board. He is really invested in the softball scene in this area. He is really well-respected. That was one of the first things that kept coming up without people who knew that he was one of our assistants. Within one conversation with him after Conswayla resigned, I thought this guy is the guy. He knows his stuff. He is a great coach. The kids have loved him for the last couple of years.”
Shillito also added that Blakeney brings a similar attitude to the department like Smith. “The fun thing you get with a guy like Harry, similarly like I brought up with Drew, is that as soon as we started the conversation with Harry, he asked what else he could help with,” Shillito said. “He is a guy that is going to help us take care of the grounds. He is going to help us with football games, so that’s a really exciting thing you get with someone else in the department like that brings as much value to the department as they do their program. That’s a big win.”
Coach Blakeney is a graduate of Taylorsville High School and Jones County Junior College. He is married to Susan Blakeney, and they share one daughter, Carlee Blakeney.
Coach Blakeney is a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard and is employed by the United States Department of Defense.
Blakeney has served as the assistant softball coach at PCS for the last two and a half years.
“I am greatly honored and look forward to developing the softball program at PCS. I have high hopes and high expectations for my players and this program, and we won’t stop until we get the job done. I’m excited to be a part of this new role in this very special PCS Family. Go Bobcats,” said Blakeney.
“Our softball program is blessed to call up Coach Blakeney to help lead our girls on the diamond, but also in life. That is one of the special things about PCS that I know from experience is not universally true— we strive for excellence in everything we do from academics to athletics and everything in between, but the ‘good stuff’ happens when our coaches enter the lives of their student-athletes, walk alongside them in the good and the bad, and all the while point them to Jesus. Coach Blakeney is a Grand Slam for PCS Softball, and I greatly look forward to how he brings this program to the next level,” said Shillito on coach Blakeney.
