This is an opinion piece.

When Terry Canova decided to leave college coaching to become head girls basketball coach at UMS-Wright, he was seeking a little stability.

“This profession, by nature, is a little nomadic,” Canova said. “I was divorced at the time and had two daughters living in Mobile. I knew if I stayed in college, my next job would probably be in another town. I thought coaching in high school might give me a chance to stay in the same area and be more stable.”

He was right.

Eighteen years later, Canova is still the head girls basketball coach at UMS, and he’s still winning. His next victory, which could come Monday in the Class 4A, Area 1 tournament, will give him 400 wins at the school.

He’s already the winningest basketball for a boys or girls team in school history.

“To think about being somewhere 18 years in a profession where changes are more the norm than the exception is pretty rare,” he said. “I can’t be thankful enough for the administration here for supporting me throughout the years. In 18 years, you are going to have some people complain for one reason or another. Sometimes, people think the easy fix is just to get a new coach. I’m so thankful our administration has stuck with me through any bumps.”

There haven’t been many bumps in the road for Canova, whose colorful personality off the court incudes a passion for pro wrestling and a passion for his New Orleans Saints. (He and this Atlanta native have to respectfully disagree on the latter).

Canova’s overall record at UMS is 399-180 entering Monday’s game 3 p.m. game against Bayside Academy. His girls teams have reached 11 Sweet 16s, nine Elite 8s and three final fours. Amazingly, he’s had one losing season in 18 years and, even in that season, his team made the Sweet 16.

“I’m passionate about girls basketball,” he said. “It’s important to me. I expect our girls to give our program everything they have. In my opinion, UMS is a perfect blend of academics and athletics. We expect excellence in the classroom and on the competition field and that goes back again to the administration. We have everything we need to be successful here.”

Though private schools often are ridiculed for a perceived “recruiting edge,” that has clearly not been the case with Canova’s teams at UMS. He said he has not had one player transfer into his girls basketball program during their high school careers.

“We aren’t out recruiting kids, trying to get kids to move in,” he said. “The kids I have I taught in elementary PE. They are now my basketball players. There are a handful of kids who moved in during middle school but not many. We take what we have here, try to give them all the resources and a plan to be successful and it’s worked pretty well.”

Canova said he has never sought another job since he’s been at UMS.

“The people here have been so good to me and put us in such a good position,” he said. “There have been a couple of situations where maybe a college coaching buddy reached out or whatever. A couple of high schools have asked how happy I was over the years and that type thing. I think the only thing that would really make me take a second look at another opportunity is if it was something so financially generous that my wife wouldn’t have to work as hard as she does, but I’m not looking for anything. I love it here.”

At 56, Canova doesn’t have any plans to stop coaching anytime soon.

“I don’t see any reason I couldn’t work another 15 years,” he said. “I think my health is great. I’m still mobile, still passionate, still energetic. I can still get fiery if I need to get fiery. When I look back at everything, I think the word that just comes to mind so much is grateful. I’m just very grateful.”

Whether he coaches five more games or 15 more years at UMS, Canova’s wins record will be hard for anyone to chase down.

As Ric Flair would say, “You got to beat the man to be the man.”

For the last 18 years, Terry Canova has been the man for UMS basketball.

High scorer

Red Level’s Javen Poindexter scored 73 points in his team’s 95-89 double overtime win over Pleasant Home on Tuesday night.

According to the AHSAA, Poindexter’s 73 points were the most scored in a game since Dustin Duncan scored 72 for Gardendale in 2001.

The record for a single AHSAA game is 97 by Walter Garrett of West End High school in a 97-54 win over Glenn in 1963. That’s right, Garrett scored all of his team’s points that night.

Mr. Football banquet

The Alabama Sports Writers Association put the final touches on the 2023 football season this week with the annual Player of the Year banquet in Montgomery.

The event, co-sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, was postponed two weeks due to the mid-January winter storm.

It was a blessing to see 45 of the 48 Player of the Year finalists there and to speak to many of them and their parents and coaches. The only players who could not make it were already enrolled at their colleges and couldn’t get away.

We also had several coaches from Auburn University as guests at the banquet and 1998 Mr. Football DeMarco McNeil of Blount was the guest speaker. Special thanks to Brandon Dean, AHSADAC director, for his help in planning the event.

One of the great benefits of my job is helping shine a positive light on our student-athletes and coaches and the work they put into the sport. Already looking forward to the 2024 season.

But, for now, it’s basketball tournament time!

Thought for the Week

“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:26-27

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.