Like father, like son: The Carlyles of Yazoo City now own 13 state titles

This previous week, the Yazoo Excessive basketball Indians painted Mississippi Coliseum brilliant purple, knocking off defending state champion Raymond 53-43 for the State 4A Boys State championship. This week, Coach Anthony Carlyle’s workforce completed ranked No. 1 amongst all highschool groups within the state.

Nonetheless, at the moment’s story begins 34 years in the past when Archie Carlyle, Anthony’s daddy, coached at Northwest Rankin. Archie’s workforce was taking part in for the district championship. I used to be reporting the sport from a folding chair on the stage proper behind the Northwest Rankin bench. Beside me was a little bit, bright-eyed four-year previous who dribbled a basketball for practically the whole sport. The boy’s title was Anthony, Anthony Carlyle, Archie’s son.

PODCAST: Like father, like son: The basketball teaching legacy of the Carlyles

Through the sport, which Northwest Rankin received huge, Anthony would catch his daddy’s look and Anthony’s eyes would gentle up in pure pleasure as if he have been driving a bicycle for the primary time. Archie would smile again earlier than getting again to teaching. And, boy, is there a narrative behind the story…

On the time, Archie Carlyle was teaching not solely the Northwest Rankin varsity, however the seventh, eighth and ninth grade groups as properly. He was commuting from his dwelling in Yazoo Metropolis. He was additionally instructing lessons. And he was elevating Anthony whereas his spouse, Amanda, was dwelling, barely, at College of Mississippi Medical Middle, the place she would by no means recuperate from a number of sclerosis, an evil, crippling illness of the spinal wire and mind. She died two years later.

After the sport, as I used to be interviewing Archie, little Anthony picked up his dad’s workplace telephone, handed it to him. “Daddy, name Mama,” the little boy mentioned.

By then, Amanda’s sickness had superior to the stage she couldn’t communicate on the telephone. Extra to the purpose, she couldn’t even acknowledge her husband or her son. However how was Archie going to inform his little boy that?

However Archie Carlyle saved on teaching and saved on elevating Anthony. Archie received a whole lot and a whole lot of video games and 7 state championships in all. His groups performed man-to-man protection as if their lives trusted the result. They performed a affected person, movement offense, however may run when the state of affairs known as for it. They only received and received and received. Archie Carlyle was one hell of a basketball coach.

Anthony Carlyle virtually grew up in a health club. He watched his dad’s workforce observe and play for years after which performed for his dad, too, by then at Yazoo. The day after Anthony graduated from school he started teaching as his daddy’s assistant at Yazoo Metropolis. After a number of years serving to his dad, Anthony moved on to take his first head teaching job at Velma Jackson the place he received 4 state championships, after which on to Columbus the place he received one other in his solely yr there.

Then, Yazoo Metropolis known as and Anthony Carlyle wasn’t certain he wished to return dwelling till his dad satisfied him. “You are able to do it right here,” his dad instructed him. “They want you right here.”

Yazoo had received eight video games the yr earlier than Anthony took the job. They received 9 his first yr and have gotten higher each season since. Now, in his fifth season again dwelling, he received the massive one. So make that six state championships for Anthony, only one in need of the seven his dad received.

However then Anthony Carlyle is simply 38. No telling what number of he’ll win. He simply needs his daddy may have been there for this one. However Archie is sick, recovering from a stroke and a few coronary heart hassle. He couldn’t make it to the Large Home final week, so Anthony took him the massive gold ball trophy when he obtained again to Yazoo Metropolis.

“Oh man, he was blissful,” Anthony mentioned. “He had an enormous smile. He mentioned, ‘Y’all did it, son. I knew you may.’”

What has the youthful Carlyle, who’s one hell of a basketball coach, taken from the older?

“Quite a bit,” he answered. “Principally his defensive ideas and his sport administration.”

I requested Anthony if he and his dad are preserving the father-son rating. I imply, his dad nonetheless has the lead in state championships seven to 6.

Anthony smiled. “Nah, I instructed him I give him credit score for all 13,” the son mentioned. “He gave me the blueprint for a way to achieve success at this. He will get all 13.”