The following news release was sent by Jeff Eubank, Public Information Director for South Panola schools:

The South Panola School District Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Sylvester Kilgore Jr. to lead the South Panola High School boys basketball team during its meeting March 27.

 

Kilgore will officially begin his role as head coach of the Tigers on July 1, 2020.

 

With 24 years in the education field, Kilgore has served as a teacher, assistant coach and head coach in Mississippi, Tennessee and Hawaii.

 

He compiled a 122-61 record as the head coach of the Holly Springs boys during the 2012-19 seasons. Under Kilgore, the Hawks were District 2-3A champs from 2014-19 and District Tournament champs in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

 

Kilgore’s teams finished runner-up in the 3A State Tournament in 2018 and 2019, reached the final four in 2017 and advanced to the Quarterfinals in 2015 and 2016.

 

As an assistant at H.W. Byers, Kilgore helped lead the Lady Lions to two state championships in 2008 and 2009.

 

A native of Holly Springs, Kilgore obtained his bachelor’s in business administration from Rust College, before earning his master’s from the University of Mississippi in instruction and curriculum.

 

At Rust, Kilgore was a member of the basketball team, cross-country team and track team from 1990-94

 

He and his wife, Shonta, have been married for 18 years. The couple has one daughter, Kourtney, who is an assistant basketball coach at Independence, and a granddaughter, Makenzie.

 

He is a member of the Mississippi High School Activities Association of Coaches, Northeast Mississippi Basketball Coaches Association, Mississippi Coaches Association, Mississippi Association of Educators, National Association of Educators AE, Arbor Day Foundation, Rust College Alumni Association and the University of Mississippi Alumni Association.