Legendary Gosnell coach announces retirement

Legendary Gosnell head boys basketball coach Danny Williams is retiring at the end of the school year.

"Danny Williams, I talked to him today, has 46 years in education retiring...he is retiring everything as of now [effective the end of the school year]. He did volunteer to work half a day for us if we need it and we won't know that until the future," Gosnell Superintendent Bonard Mace said during the Gosnell School Board meeting Monday evening.

Taking over at the start of the season, Williams turned around the program by leading the Pirates to a district championship, deep state tournament run and 23-9 record.

Last June, the Pirates were beginning summer workouts on the heels of a last place finish in the 3-4A. It was a year plagued with injuries, eligibility issues and eventually forfeiture of games. And, early in June, they were without a coach. Former head coach, Kirk Glintborg, stepped down at the end of the school year after three years and returned to Blytheville.

The Pirates turned to a familiar face -- Williams, who had last head coached a team in 1997.

"I really didn't think I'd be doing this at all," said Williams in an interview last June. "I kind of thought I'd just stay as an assistant. The situation dictated it and this is what I felt I ought to do."

Gosnell made it all the way to the 4A state quarterfinals, finishing second in the 3-4A conference, winning a district title and taking third in the 4A East Region.