Fairview Lady Panther head basketball coach Kyle Jinks added another feather to his cap as he was selected the 2023 Girls Basketball National Coach of the Year at a banquet held July 26 in Lincoln, Neb.
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) nominated Jinks to the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA), and he was later named as a finalist by the national association.
“I think it’s something people in our community can enjoy,” Jinks commented. “It’s big for the whole parish.”
He went on to say, “I’m blessed that Jesus put me in a place like this.”
Jinks has coached at Fairview for the past 25 years and has amassed a career record of 912-123. He has been a member of the All-Star Selection Committee for 15 years and a member of the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association (LHSBCA) Board of Directors. His teams have won 12 state basketball championships, and his team finished as state runner-up once.
Additionally, Jinks was named National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) State Coach of the Year, LHSAA Class B Coach of the Year twice, LHSAA Class C Coach of the Year twice, and Media Area Coach of the Year 10 times.
Earlier this year, Jinks was inducted into the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“This is a great honor,” Jinks said during the induction ceremony, which was held back on Friday, March 17. “I like to set goals for myself as a coach, and this was never on the goal list. I didn’t think this would be possible.”
Back in March, Jinks went on to say, “I’m so proud that I did this at one school. I’ve never been anywhere else. I never bounced around. I came to Fairview and stayed there.”
