SMITHVILLE – Chad O’Brian still catches himself yelling at his former Smithville High basketball players during games.

But for the most part, the former coach is able to sit back and enjoy the Seminoles’ games this season, his first as a spectator after nine seasons at the Smithville helm.

After all, the Seminoles are in good hands and are enjoying a pretty successful season.

“I still get a lot of joy when I go to the games,” O’Brian, the new Smithville principal, said this week. “I still see my handprints on them.”

As a matter of fact, O’Brian happened to be a product of his replacement at Smithville. He played for current Seminoles head coach Greg Haynes at Tremont during the 1992-93 season.

So when O’Brian became the principal, he turned to his former leader to replace him on the Smithville sidelines.

“He called and asked to see if I was interested,” said Haynes, 56, who coached previously at Vardaman and Hamilton before taking last season off. “I first said no, but the longer we talked, I then said yes.

“I’m certainly glad I did because I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

He has every reason to enjoy his debut season at Smithville. The Seminoles are 17-5 (2-3 Division 4-1A) and are “a good-character bunch,” says Haynes.

When asked about his decision to step down and his former team’s success without him, O’Brian said it was “a family decision, a career decision” and that he wasn’t “surprised that these kids are doing that well.”

“To be honest with you, it was the only job that would get me to quit being the Smithville boys basketball coach,” he added. “I knew we had a good group of kids coming back.

“You don’t get teams like that every year, but the opportunity to become the principal is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You gotta take opportunities like that when they come.”

‘Freedom to create’

That last part has become the offensive philosophy of this year’s Smithville team. Utilizing concepts of the dribble-drive motion offense, the Seminoles have “more freedom to create” than in years past.

“He gives a lot of freedom to the offense,” O’Brian said of Haynes’ coaching style. “I used to keep pretty tight reins on the offense.

“If we are going to shoot it 65 times, I liked to know who’s going to shoot it (at least) those 55 times.

“Just like (former college coach) Bobby Knight: He didn’t teach plays; he taught kids how to play. Coach Haynes doesn’t do a whole of plays, but gives them the freedom and trust to do what they want on the floor.”

The Seminoles have responded to their newfound freedom by scoring more than 65 points per game – led by twin brothers Datrune (13.8 points per game) and Antwune Freeman (15.9) – while allowing only 42.1 on the season.

In turn, that has transcended a 7-14 team from last season into a team that can win 20 games this season.

“I feel like, when we start playing a game, we almost always have a chance (of winning) because of the defense,” Haynes said. “They are going to give me everything they got no matter who they’re playing.”

Contact John Wilbert at 678-1572 or john.wilbert@djournal.com