Smithfield-Selma picks Donald to lead football program
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SMITHFIELD — Smithfield-Selma has hired former E.E. Smith head coach Deron Donald to lead their football program.
Donald resigned from the Golden Bulls In December after going 4-8 and losing in the first round of the state playoffs to Southern Nash. Donald spent four seasons at the Fayetteville school where he went 16-31 with two playoff trips including a 9-4 season in 2017.
Donald’s nine-win season is more than the amount Of wins that SSS has had in the last decade. The Spartans went 1-10 last year for the third straight year. Since 2010, Smithfield-Selma is 8-102 overall. SSS hasn’t had a winning season since 2008.
After resigning from E.E. Smith, Donald said to the Fayetteville Observer: “As coaches, it’s bigger than wins and losses. I think that’s what I try to instill in our young people. We’re building young men and I think we did some great things here, myself and the coaching staff. The players bought in and the program was in a good place. It saddens me that I’m resigning as the head coach. It’s tough because I love this place and these kids.”
Smithfield-Selma’s former head coach Mike Parrish resigned for unknown reasons in December. Parrish finished 3-41 in four seasons at the helm.