The Tribune

COACH Sam Nichols, retired head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University, Abilene, Texas, is scheduled to return to town again for his 14th Annual Basketball Smiles basketball camp.

The free camps, coordinated by HO Nash Junior High coach Patty Johnson, will be held at CI Gibson High School June 17-19. The girls’ camp is set for 9am to noon, and boys’ camp 1-4pm.

Nichols was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Honour in 1999 and retired in 2007 with over 600 career wins. He has a 70 per cent win percentage over 32 years of coaching. Nichols has written two basketball textbooks and has conducted basketball clinics all over the world, including Russia and Africa.

Nichols is the winningest coach in McMurry University women’s basketball history. He has guided the Lady Indians to national prominence during his 12 seasons at McMurry University and he has won several coach-of-the-year honours during his career.

Along with Nichols will be coach Randy Thompson, vice-president and director of operations for Basketball Smiles and 9 other Texas coaches.

“This group of coaches make up a tremendous staff of dedicated coaches with big hearts who love teaching the game of basketball,” Nichols saids. “All of these coaches raised their own money and are giving of their free time to come and work with Bahamian boys and girls.”

The motto of Basketball Smiles is: “We bring a week of smiles and hope through basketball.”

According to Nichols, “Along with basketball, we conduct a daily life skills programme during the camp that emphasises self-respect, academic success, good citizenship, and spiritual values.Our goal is not just to develop basketball players, but help build future leaders in the Bahamas.”

If you have any questions regarding the Basketball Smiles camp, contact coach Patty Johnson at 242-323-6489.