Red Bay has turned to a recent basketball standout to lead the girls basketball program after Holly Kuykendall stepped down this summer.

Darby Madden Lindsay graduated from Red Bay in 2017. She was part of the Tigers’ state semifinalist team and state championship team in 2015 as a sophomore under Donnie Roberts. Lindsay signed a scholarship to play basketball at the University of North Alabama.

“This is truly an honor,” said Lindsay. “This program has a very deep, rich history of success. I am very humbled to be coaching at such an historic program.”

Lindsay said playing for Roberts will be a big benefit to her as a coach, just as it was as a player.

“Playing under Donnie Roberts gave me so many tools to put in my coaching belt,” Lindsay explained. “Coach Roberts is a Hall of Fame coach, and to think I was coached and mentored under his wisdom is an honor.

“The main thing I learned from Coach Roberts, though, is that he cared about his players beyond the basketball court, and he would do anything for them.”

Lindsay also worked with trainer Rayfield Ragland while in high school and said he taught her many of the basics of basketball and how to motivate players.

“Rayfield gave me a lot of ideas when implementing speed and agility drills,” said Lindsay. “He always had a knack for getting the best out of his players and figuring out what motivated them.”

Lindsay said she is ready to put her stamp on the Red Bay Tiger program and make her own mark, and that starts with short term goals.

“It is simple,” said Lindsay. “I want to get back to basics. I will focus on defense and conditioning immediately. I believe offense comes if defense is played correctly.

“I prefer a fast–pace gamed, so conditioning will be a necessity. I will also invest in the youth programs because that is where the future is.”

Long term, Lindsay said she wants “to build a program that is successful and competes for championships.”

“I don’t just want to coach athletes but young women,” she added. “I want them to be successful when they leave high school and prepare them for their future.”