Yazoo City basketball hires Lincoln Smith as coach, replacing title winner Anthony Carlyle

Yazoo City boys basketball has hired Lincoln Smith as its next coach.

Smith replaces Anthony Carlyle, who accepted a job at Starkville after he spent six seasons at Yazoo City and won the MHSAA Class 4A state title in 2023.

Yazoo City went 28-6 this past season and reached the MHSAA Class 5A state game, where it lost 58-40 to Canton.

"I am excited to be named the next head coach of the Yazoo City boys basketball program," Smith told the Clarion Ledger. "Opportunities as this one do not come open often. A program that has been built on hard work and has reaped the benefits of that work. I, too, believe that success only comes from working hard each day."

Smith, 43, comes from Ridgeland, where he was an assistant on the boys team. The Titans reached the MHSAA Class 6A final before losing to Olive Branch.

Smith, a former Mississippi State center, played from 1999-2004, appeared in 64 games and averaged 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds.

"When the opportunity was presented to me, after prayer and careful consideration, it was a no-brainer that Yazoo City would be my new home," he said. "Our plan is to continue to build the Yazoo City program to be one of the best basketball programs in the state of Mississippi.”

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.