STARKVILLE — Former West Lowndes High School basketball coach Herman Peters is excited about his new vocation.
Peters assumed his duties as sports program coordinator for the city of Starkville Parks and Recreation Department earlier this month. He is pleased because of the unique opportunity this new job allows to embrace his passion of basketball.
“I am really excited about this opportunity,” Peters said. “This opportunity provided me a chance to get back into the sports arena. Having been out the last two years, I am excited about getting back involved, working with the area coaches and players.”
Peters coached basketball, softball, and track and field for five seasons at West Lowndes. The past two years, Peters worked as an events coordinator at the Columbus YMCA.
Starkville Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Rye is excited Peters has decided to move down U.S. Highway 82 West to Starkville.
“Herman has really come in at the right time,” Rye said. “He brings a great skill set to our department. Herman is very administratively organized and is a goal-oriented person. He will be an asset as we try to enhance what we do around here.”
Peters’ main responsibilities will involve coordinating adult basketball, adult softball, adult flag football, and adult co-ed softball. Peters also will work with the youth basketball league in the winter and will be a key component as the department tries to grow the high school basketball league during the summer.
“The high school basketball league is beginning to take off,” Peters said. “I am looking forward to the challenge of helping make the league even better. With my contacts, we should be able to make the program grow.
“This is an opportunity for teams from throughout the area to play against one another in organized scrimmage games. Most teams play somewhere between eight and 10 games during the summer. From junior high to high school, this league is a really a great thing.”
As with most events, the key to success is spreading the word. The ability to promote and to build is the task of the five-person staff at the parks and recreation department.
“We are trying to grow the adult basketball league,” Peters said. “It runs from March through May. We really would like to grow it some more. The important thing is getting the word out. We would like to see more people take advantage of what we have to offer.”
Rye and Peters suggest new things could be on the horizon in 2012. The department would like to add a few new touches while maintaining the excellent customer service relations that led to record numbers using the Starkville Sportsplex and the city’s seven parks in the past year.
“We have various events throughout the year,” Rye said. “From family reunions to birthday parties. We host banquets. City organizations use our facilities, too. People in the city of Starkville should be proud of how well utilized all of our facilities are.
“In the year ahead, our goal is to build on the past success while still finding ways to be even better in the year ahead.”
On an average day, between 150 and 300 people take advantage of the walking track inside the Sportsplex Multi-Purpose Building. The basketball courts average around 150 participants per days, while the racquetball courts receive 25-50 guests.
The youth soccer program had 700 participants this past season, while the youth baseball league had 550, the youth basketball league had 350 and the youth softball league had 300. In adult softball, the average usually ranges from 40-48 teams each season. Aerobics classes also are offered.
To an ordinary person, this might see a tad bit overwhelming. However, Peters feels he is up for the grind.
“I was coaching at Quitman High School when (former University of Alabama star and current National Basketball Association player) Antonio McDyess was in school,” Peters said. “We dealt with a lot of press and hype back then, so I am used to the big time. I feel like some of that has helped prepare me for this challenge.”
A native of Shubuta, Peters graduated from Quitman High and Meridian Community College. Peters worked under current Columbus High boys basketball coach Sammy Smith at Quitman. His coaching stint there led to the opportunity at West Lowndes, where he guided the Panthers to the state tournament and was named All-Area boys and girls basketball coach of the year.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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