Independence High School has just named Preston Sharp as its new head boys basketball coach.

 

Sharp replaces Brad Smith, who retired after six seasons in Independence and 37 total years as a head basketball coach.

 

IHS goes with an internal hire. Sharp has been with USD 446 for the last four years as a middle school science teacher. 

 

During that time, Sharp served as an assistant to Brycen Byrd on IHS’s girls basketball coaching staff for three seasons. Last year, Sharp was an assistant to Brad Smith on the boys team.

 

IHS Athletic Director Marcus Lanning says Sharp had been on his radar long before coming to Independence.

 

Lanning believes that those earlier stops for Sharp, along with his experience working with Byrd and Smith, have given him a diverse coaching background that will be beneficial.

 

Sharp will have big shoes to fill. He replaces Brad Smith, who won more than 400 games over his career, with stops at Labette County and Maize before six years in Independence.

 

Lanning hired Smith to replace himself as he transitioned from basketball coach to athletic director, and he says there was no better man for that job.

 

Photo Courtesy: Independence High School Facebook