Barkley resigns as EHS basketball coach, Keel resigns as Dauphin basketball coach

Alonzo Barkley has resigned his position as the Enterprise High School boys basketball coach.

The resignation was announced and approved at the March 21 Enterprise Board of Education meeting.

Barkley, who serves as the EHS Temporary Alternative Placement program principal, said the time is right for him to step aside as the Wildcats’ coach.

“With the position I have this year and some expanded roles I’m going to take on, I felt like it was the right thing to do,” he said.

Barkley has coached the Wildcats since the 2013-14 season. They finished 7-13 in his first season, but reached the Class 7A Central Regional Tournament in Montgomery the next year. Enterprise finished the season with a 21-11 overall record.

The Wildcats ended the 2015-16 season in the first round of the Class 7A, Area 3 Tournament with a 12-13 record.

Last season, Enterprise finished 8-16 with a loss in the area tournament.

The Wildcats went 48-53 during Barkley’s tenure.

“It’s been a great opportunity,” Barkley said.

EHS athletic director Trent Trawick said in a statement the school is searching for its next coach.

"We would like to thank Coach Barkley for his hard work and dedication as he led our boys basketball program as well as his commitment to Enterprise High School," he said. "The search for his replacement will begin immediately."

Barkley addressed the decision further after the EHS basketball banquet.

"Coaching is all about people," he said. "It's always been like that, about people. What I do is just combine sports with just working with kids and helping them. I know the kind of position I was in at 15, 16 and 17 and the need I had. We try to help bring that to the (players) we have the pleasure to coach. Over time, you kind of get better at that. It becomes a skill. It's just more about the kids and the love for the game. My decision to step down and leave was more about doing the same thing, just in a different way on a broader scale. Now, I get to use my position to impact the kids not only at Enterprise High School, but Enterprise City (Schools). I have an opportunity to do some things on a broader scale so that's what I want to do."

Though he is changing roles and leaving the court, the former coach said he will keep an eye on the Wildcats.

"You'll still see me around, but just in a different capacity. We'll be rooting for you. It's been a pleasure."

 Former Dauphin Junior High School basketball coach David Keel also resigned his position as the school’s basketball coach, though he said he will continue to teach and serve as an assistant football coach for the Fins.

"A lot of it is just time with my two kids," Keel said. "About three years ago I started officiating with the AHSAA so I officiate about 40 games a year on top of coaching. It was just getting to be a lot. I've had fun, won the city championship the last two years. I just felt it was time to let somebody else take a shot at it for a while."

Keel said DJHS went 22-6 in the last two seasons on the basketball court.