State champion coach Upshaw retires from Lady Troy

SEAN SAUNDERS

Health problems sidelined him for one year and are now forcing Hot Springs girls basketball coach Mark Upshaw into retirement.

An earlier surgery was unable to repair a leg injury he suffered early last season, forcing a second operation later in the summer that would knock him out for much of the upcoming year. Upshaw decided instead to retire after 29 years in coaching, 14 as a head coach and the last eight with the Lady Trojans, he told by phone Thursday.

“I wasn’t ready to do it, but I got to do it,” Upshaw said. “It was going to be six months to a year, they said, for the rehab, so you’ve got to have somebody come in and take care of the girls and all that. For me physically and for the team, it was the best thing to do.”

Upshaw steps down after going 140-79 with the Lady Trojans. His Hot Springs tenure was bookended by back-to-back 20-win seasons, guiding them to the postseason six times, consecutive conference championships the last two years and their fourth state title in 2014-15.

Although retiring a year after that season, he still goes out on top. His final year, led by all-state seniors Berniezha Tidwell, Tiaunna Watkins and Ashley Clayborn who won 28 straight league games, ended on an 18-game winning streak for 26-4, Hot Springs defeating Pulaski Academy in overtime in Upshaw’s first appearance in the finals.

“We had a good run,” Upshaw said. “In the first year, we reached the semifinals and lost by five. We also broke (Camden) Fairview’s three-year winning streak. That kind of set the tone, and the girls all responded. We were able to make it to the semifinals again the next-to-last year, and to win it my last year was really special. We had a really good run, and there still are some really good players there. Whoever is taking over has got some really good talent there.”

Trojan boys assistant Josh Smith was summoned as the interim coach last season, guiding Hot Springs to a 23-4 campaign and second place in the 5A-South at 11-3 with allstate players Imani Honey, Ariana Guinn and Keke Hunter. Smith, earning Garland County coach of the year after Upshaw gained the honor his last three seasons, indicated his interest in becoming the Lady Trojans’ fulltime coach at the end of the year.

Hot Springs athletic director Jim Gentry had no comment on Smith’s candidacy but said the school will act quickly to fill the position. The next scheduled school-board meeting is June 21.

“We’re going to move on it pretty quick,” Gentry said. “We’re all busy at the end of the year, and this has all happened recently. We’re in discussion, and we’re going to act upon it pretty quick.”

While the district works on filling the position, Upshaw said he’ll let this “bittersweet” part of his life play out, promising he’ll watch as many Lady Trojan games as possible. He also looks forward to spending more time with his family.

“I haven’t had a Christmas off in 29 years, Upshaw said, “so that’s going to be enjoyable to be able to spend Christmas with family and grandkids.”