Pirate alumnus Scott hired to lead former team

By Joseph Fondren 

Sports Connection Team 

The Gosnell School Board has unanimously approved the hiring of Pirate alumnus Deantre Scott as the next head coach of the Gosnell Pirates boys basketball program. 

Scott, a 2009 graduate of Gosnell High School, was a two time all-state student athlete. 

His college honors and achievements include: Shawnee Community College- All-Conference and All-Region; Harding Academy; Lindsey Wilson College: NAIA Championship Final Four and a student assistant for the 2013-14 season. 

Scott was born in Chicago. His family moved to Arkansas when he was in the sixth grade. 

He is the youngest of three boys — Clifton Scott and Chavis Goodwin— to his mom Alice who still lives in the Gosnell area. 

After college, Scott traveled overseas where he played professionally for four years. 

Scott spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Silver Creek High School in Indiana, where his teams won two Indiana State Championships in 2019 and 2021. 

According to Scott, he hasn’t been back to Gosnell since 2019 when he attended his 10-year reunion, but coming back means a lot. 

“Coming back to Gosnell means a lot. Especially since I grew up here and spent countless hours in the school and gym,” explained Scott. “Being able to come back and be on the other side as a teacher/coach is cool. Never thought it would happen but I’m blessed and ready to learn and grow in all areas.”

Who is Scott most excited to be around again? 

It has to be his high school basketball coach Len Whitehead, who now serves as the superintendent for the Gosnell School District. 

“It means a lot being here around Coach Whitehead again. Even though he has transitioned out of coaching I can’t look at him any other way,” said Scott. “He was probably the biggest reason for my success in high school and out. He always kept me grounded humbled and focused. I owe him a lot!”

This will be Scott’s first time as a head coach for a varsity program. Silver Creek’s Brandon Hoffman and Whitehead are two coaches the new Pirates head coach would like to thank for the first head coaching position. 

“I want to thank Coach Brandon Hoffman at Silver Creek. He saw the potential I had in coaching and took a chance on me. He made an assistant coach for the high school team and head coach for the freshman team. I learned a lot under him to start my career,” said Scott. “And also Coach Whitehead for bring me back home and letting me lead the program. I’m truly honored.”

According to Scott, hard work and dedication is “huge”.

“As a coach, I definitely believe in motivating, hard work and dedication is huge,” Scott explained. “Have to be able to grind it out through the hard times and stay motivated and hungry through the good!”