STARKVILLE — Just weeks after Starkville High School head girls basketball coach Kristie Williams officially ended her two-decades long tenure as head coach of the Yellow Jackets, the program has found a new face to lead the team.
The Starkville-Oktibbeha School District announced on Thursday afternoon the hire of Matt Wilbanks to lead the girls basketball program.
“Starkville is a dream job,” Wilbanks said in Thursday’s press release. “My family and I are extremely excited to be a part of the Yellow Jacket family.”
Wilbanks was most recently the head coach at Morton High School, taking the Panthers to at least the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A/4A semifinals in Jackson each of the past two seasons.
This season, Morton came up short in the Class 4A state title game to Tishomingo County, going 29-3 overall.
“Coach Wilbanks brings a wealth of experience to Starkville,” said Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee in Thursday’s press release. “He is very well-respected in high school basketball, and we look forward to watching him lead the Lady Jackets basketball team.”
Wilbanks returns to a familiar place in Starkville as he previously graduated from Mississippi State
He’ll take over a program that went 24-7 this season and lost in the Class 7A quarterfinals. Wilbanks will be looking to end a state-championship drought that has now reached six seasons, dating back to the 2017-18 campaign.
Wilbanks officially begins his Starkville coaching and teaching tenure in July.
“We look forward to meeting everyone and continuing the great tradition that is Lady Jacket Basketball,” Wilbanks said.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
