Bobby West has achieved numerous honors inathletics, first as a coach and then as an athleticdirector.  The Brookhavennative has been part of the Magnolia State’s sports scene for over40 years.

    For West, his latest achievement will arrive Saturday when he isinducted into the Mississippi Association of Independent SchoolsCoaches’ Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place at the ClydeMuse Center located on the Hinds Community College campus in Pearl.Also entering the hallowed hall this weekend are Brookhaven Academyboys basketball coach Dale Watts, Ronnie Aldy, Termie Land and Dr.Marvin Lishman.

    The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m.

    West, a 1965 Brookhaven High School graduate, coached basketball inthe BHS system for 12 years, the first two as an assistant to MelEdmonds. He also worked as offensive coordinator for former BHSfootball coach Larry Thomas.

    West had a successful career coaching basketball at BHS but hismain claim to fame arrived after he was fired at BHS. Workingwithin a political powder keg, West had kept the Ole Brook Panthersat a high level of success in the early years of integration.

    Remarkably, West was fired because he didn’t use enough whiteplayers during the games. He was ordered to have at least one whiteplayer on the floor at all times.

    I recall a conversation he had with one of his players on the busride home from Hattiesburg. West’s team had just upset the talentedHattiesburg Tigers on their home floor.

    “Coach, that was a great win for us,” said the player. West agreedbut told his player, “Yes it was, but I’ll probably get fired.”

    West had disobeyed the administration, using mainly black playersthe entire game.

    Ridiculous?

    You betcha.

    West’s last season was 1982. Despite a public protest, the decisionto fire West stood.

 

    Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, West’s coaching future rosefrom deep despair to glory. Jackson Prep was hunting a boysbasketball coach and the school pursued Gulfport coaching legendBert Jenkins to fill the position.

    Jenkins graciously declined the offer but he did make arecommendation. West was contacted by Prep AD Buddy Crosby and thewheels were in motion.

    West had coached the sons of Ralph “Catfish” Smith at BHS. Smithhad played football with Crosby at Ole Miss. It was a donedeal.

    Embracing his new job with renewed enthuasiam, West coached theall-white Prep Patriots to four Overall State Tournament titles insix years. A dynasty was born.

    “I showed I could win if I had good players,” West laughed,recalling his success. “I enjoyed my days at Prep. I had atremendous time coaching Brookhaven, too. We had some funtimes.”

    He inquired about the whereabouts of Carson Benjamin, Ole Brook’spowerful 6-foot-5 center who once scored 58 points against BogueChitto. We talked about the Cameron brothers, Shelva and Ricky, twomulti-sport standouts at BHS.

    West began his 24th year as athletic director at Jackson Academythis month. It is an elite private school with annual tuitionaround $10,000.

    West, 64, oversees 18 sports, nine for girls and nine for boys.Among those are volleyball and swimming. Barbara, his wife of 32years, coaches the JA tennis team. She was cheerleader sponsor atBHS in 1978-82.

    “It has been a really good experience for me,” saidWest.  “We have someoutstanding kids and families at JA. We have great coaching.Financially, we are as well off as most anybody. If our athleticdepartment needs something, we can get it.

    “Our administration supports us,” West added. “Everyone realizesthe importance of athletics in school.”

    He and wife have two children. A stepson, Ryan Irving; and a sonBrooks, now 31 years old and living in Nashville, Tenn. They have a2-year-old grandson, Nelson Irving.

    West’s parents, C.H. and Elizabeth West, are both deceased. Hisbrother, Charles, is an East Lincoln resident. His sister, Maxine,lives in Simpson County.

    West and his wife married in March, 1979, just a few days after hisfather suffered a fatal heart attack. Both families were in townfor the Sunday wedding and there was no reason to postpone thelong-awaited event.

    The Wests don’t visit Brookhaven very often because the familyproperty has been sold. His family’s land was located mainly westof the North Brookhaven exit off I-55. His father was a dairyfarmer for years. He also drove a gas truck.

    For sure, West left a lasting impression on the BHS basketballprogram as the Panthers competed for district and statechampionships on an annual basis. He’s highly regarded at JacksonPrep and JA, too.

    

    To contact sports editor Tom Goetz: Emailtgoetz@dailyleader.com