Hall of Famer Sherry White is back in the saddle again
www.arkansasnewsroom.com
Sherry White stayed retired for all of one year.
White, a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, won five state championships in a storied 38-year coaching career with stops at Mountain Home, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Lakeside, Harrison, Fort Smith Southside and Russellville.
Her first state title was at Hot Springs then four more came at Harrison. She took Southside and Russellville to state championship games. She won over 600 games as a high school coach.
White was also one of the better high school players to come out of the state from Bruno-Pyatt and was a four-year all-conference player at Arkansas Tech where she still ranks second in school history in career scoring with 2,248 points at 19.7 points per game and tied for third in rebounds with 842.
So what job lured her off the sidelines? Away from the comfort of home and family?
If you guessed, coaching the ninth-graders at Maumelle High School, you’d be right as Maumelle coach Callie De Los Santos made White an offer she couldn’t refuse.
Santos played for White at Southside and it was her Lady Rebels team that lost in the 2013 state finals. Santos also ended her college career at White’s alma mater, Arkansas Tech, where she was a pretty fair player as well.
Maumelle girls basketball coach Calli De Los Santos in her playing days at Arkansas Tech. (Arkansas Tech photo)
So Santos and White have a connection as a coach and player but there’s more. Much more.
If you didn’t already know, or had figured it out, White is also Calli’s mom, and Santos will be entering her first full year as a high school coach. She was hired last season after coaching the junior high at Sylvan Hills but missed the entirety of the year after being on maternity leave.
“I got mom out of retirement to come help out this year,” White said by text and followed by
. “Yes! I love it!! … We are extremely lucky to have her!”
White might miss a game or two this season as she’ll be headed to Harrison later this year to be inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame but her presence will be felt regardless as she’ll also serve as an assistant coach to her daughter.
As for Maumelle, Santos says she has three starters back from last season in London Robinson, Trista Dillard, Taijah Jackson. A key player off the bench last year was Jikirah Riley.
Santos also welcomes a large group of newcomers in: Raelen Randle, Mia Winston, Khyndal Alexander, India Robinson, Hallie Joy Fender and Lake Ramey.
“I think we will be extremely young, but very talented and hard working,” Santos said. “We are a fearless team that will never give up. We will be strong inside and have developed some shooters on the outside.”
Santos added, “This team is one of the closest groups of girls I’ve ever coached. They genuinely are for each other on and off the court. We keep each other accountable, and are all working for one common goal: A State Championship. I feel honored and blessed to coach these girls. We are growing this program in the right direction, and we look forward to what it’s becoming!”
At a glance
Last season's record: 3-13
Years at school: Entering second year as Head Coach
Career high school record: 0-0 (missed last season due to maternity leave)
Assistant coaches: Jimbo Pearson and Sherry White
Streaming site: Natural State Sports and Maumelle Sports Network Youtube and Facebook pages
Hall of Famer Sherry White is back in the saddle again
Hall of Famer Sherry White is back in the saddle again
Hall of Famer Sherry White is back in the saddle again
Sherry White stayed retired for all of one year.
White, a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, won five state championships in a storied 38-year coaching career with stops at Mountain Home, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Lakeside, Harrison, Fort Smith Southside and Russellville.
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Her first state title was at Hot Springs then four more came at Harrison. She took Southside and Russellville to state championship games. She won over 600 games as a high school coach.
White was also one of the better high school players to come out of the state from Bruno-Pyatt and was a four-year all-conference player at Arkansas Tech where she still ranks second in school history in career scoring with 2,248 points at 19.7 points per game and tied for third in rebounds with 842.
So what job lured her off the sidelines? Away from the comfort of home and family?
If you guessed, coaching the ninth-graders at Maumelle High School, you’d be right as Maumelle coach Callie De Los Santos made White an offer she couldn’t refuse.
Santos played for White at Southside and it was her Lady Rebels team that lost in the 2013 state finals. Santos also ended her college career at White’s alma mater, Arkansas Tech, where she was a pretty fair player as well.
So Santos and White have a connection as a coach and player but there’s more. Much more.
If you didn’t already know, or had figured it out, White is also Calli’s mom, and Santos will be entering her first full year as a high school coach. She was hired last season after coaching the junior high at Sylvan Hills but missed the entirety of the year after being on maternity leave.
“I got mom out of retirement to come help out this year,” White said by text and followed by
. “Yes! I love it!! … We are extremely lucky to have her!”
White might miss a game or two this season as she’ll be headed to Harrison later this year to be inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame but her presence will be felt regardless as she’ll also serve as an assistant coach to her daughter.
As for Maumelle, Santos says she has three starters back from last season in London Robinson, Trista Dillard, Taijah Jackson. A key player off the bench last year was Jikirah Riley.
Santos also welcomes a large group of newcomers in: Raelen Randle, Mia Winston, Khyndal Alexander, India Robinson, Hallie Joy Fender and Lake Ramey.
“I think we will be extremely young, but very talented and hard working,” Santos said. “We are a fearless team that will never give up. We will be strong inside and have developed some shooters on the outside.”
Santos added, “This team is one of the closest groups of girls I’ve ever coached. They genuinely are for each other on and off the court. We keep each other accountable, and are all working for one common goal: A State Championship. I feel honored and blessed to coach these girls. We are growing this program in the right direction, and we look forward to what it’s becoming!”
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Kennedi Borking, UAPB
Schedule
Nov. 9 … Southside Batesville 60, Maumelle 49
Nov. 11 … Maumelle 42, Little Rock Southwest 41
Nov. 16 … Rogers Heritage 63, Maumelle 33
Nov. 22 … Maumelle 52, Mount St. Mary 36
Dec. 2 … at Hot Springs Lakeside … 5 p.m.
Jan. 4 … at White Hall … 5 p.m.
Jan. 11 ... at Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 ... at Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 18 ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 21 ... Hall ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 22 … Morrilton … 4 p.m.
Jan. 25 … at Benton ... 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 ... Parkview ... 67 p.m.
Feb. 4 ... Jacksonville ... 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 11 ... at Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 ... at Hall ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 18 ... Benton ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 22 ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Feb. 25 ... at Parkview ... 6 p.m.