RISON - The turnover of head coaches for various athletic teams at Rison High School continued Monday night as the Cleveland County School Board approved the hiring of a new boys basketball coach while accepting the resignation of its current baseball coach.
During a special called meeting held at the administration building in Rison, the school board approved hiring Eli Dawson of Magnet Cove High School as the new boys basketball coach/assistant football coach; and Brandon Godfrey, formerly the head coach of McCrory High School, as assistant football coach/defensive coordinator and assistant softball coach.
In addition, the board accepted the resignation of Joshua Smeltzer, head baseball coach and assistant football coach, effective at the end of his contract on June 30. The board also approved a certified transfer stipend for Trey Bowlin from head girls track coach to assistant baseball coach for the 2023-24 school year.
The hiring of Dawson and Godfrey is contingent on successful background checks.
Both hires as well as Smeltzer's resignation were unanimously approved by the six board members present for Monday night's meeting. Tony White was unable to attend the meeting.
Smeltzer's resignation marks the fourth head coach to step down at Rison High School this school year.
Head Football Coach Clay Totty, after a 25-year career at Rison, resigned in December to become head football coach at Wynne High School. Totty also served as the boys track coach.
Boys Basketball Coach Greg Anthony and Girls Basketball Coach Seth Taylor resigned in March, and Smeltzer's resignation this week leaves Rison Softball Coach Kristie Saunders as the only head coach that will be returning next school year.
Smeltzer's resignation also marked the third assistant football coach to leave the school this year forcing to new Head Coach Caleb Carmikle to replenish his staff. Smeltzer served as the defensive co...
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