Wilbanks Named Yellow Jacket Head Girls Basketball Coach

  • Posted March 7, 2024
Matt Wilbanks joins Yellow Jacket Athletics at Head Girls Basketball Coach. He and is wife, Ariel, are the parents of a daughter, Kelby, and son, Mack.

Matt Wilbanks joins Yellow Jacket Athletics at Head Girls Basketball Coach. He and is wife, Ariel, are the parents of a daughter, Kelby, and son, Mack.

Starkville Oktibbeha School District has named Matt Wilbanks as the new Head Coach for Yellow Jacket Girls Basketball. The hiring of Wilbanks was approved at the March meeting of the SOSD Board of Trustees on Tuesday.

Matt Wilbanks currently serves as Head Coach for varsity girls basketball at Morton High School and brings more than ten years of coaching experience to the Lady Jackets basketball program. In addition to serving in the Scott County School District, he has also held coaching positions in Leake County School District and Union Public School District. 

"Coach Wilbanks brings a wealth of experience to Starkville," said SOSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "He is very well-respected in high school basketball, and we look forward to watching him lead the Lady Jackets basketball team."

In 2024, Coach Wilbanks was named the Class 4A / Region 5 Coach of the Year by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. In each school district where he has coached, Wilbanks has led teams to District Championships and deep State Playoff runs.

"Starkville is a dream job," Wilbanks said. "My family and I are extremely excited to be a part of the Yellow Jacket family. We look forward to meeting everyone and continuing the great tradition that is Lady Jacket Basketball."

Coach Wilbanks will join the Yellow Jacket staff officially beginning in July. He takes the helm from Kristie Williams, who retires from coaching at the end of this school year after a 20-year tenure leading Lady Jackets basketball.

Coach Wilbanks holds a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College. In addition to basketball, he has also coached cross country and softball. His experience as an educator includes coaching, teaching and administration. He and his wife, Ariel, are the parents of a daughter, Kelby, and son, Mack.

"Matt is a proven leader and coach," said McGee. "We are excited for him to join the Jacket family and bring his track record of excellence to Starkville."