From staff reports
Beaufort Academy has brought back two familiar faces to lead the boys and girls basketball programs. Bobby Smith will return as the boys coach, replacing Nick Field, while Chip Dinkins is back as the girls coach, replacing Andrew Ienuso.
Bobby Smith coached the BA boys in 2019 and 2020, leading them to two playoff appearances.
Smith has more than 47 years of coaching experience, sending countless students to the collegiate level, while amassing more than 525 wins.
“I have a strong passion for developing and mentoring students,” Smith said in a post on the school’s website. “I am excited to be back coaching at Beaufort Academy, not only to win games, but to give my players some of the necessary tools to succeed in life.”
Beaufort Academy Athletic Director, William Howell said, “I am very excited to bring Bobby and his wife Karin back to the BA family. His resume speaks for itself. His leadership and experience makes him a tremendous asset for our student-athletes and boys basketball program. I know he is going to equip our boys with the tools to succeed both on and off the court.”
Dinkins comes back to the sidelines as a head coach after a five-year year absence. He started his career at BA in 1998, as the junior varsity head coach. An alumnus of BA, Dinkins then spent 15 years as the varsity boys coach, accumulating more than 150 wins and sending 10 teams to the SCISA state playoffs, including a SCISA 2A state championship in 2006.
A two-time Beaufort Gazette Coach of the Year (2006, 2016), Dinkins will be in his first year as a varsity girls head coach, though he assisted Lillian Keeler in 2020-2021, helping lead the BA varsity girls to a SCISA 2A Final Four appearance.
Dinkins has coached many of the players on the current girls roster at both the Middle School and JV level.
“I am very happy to have Chip back at BA,” Howell said. “He is someone who knows what it takes to succeed and our girls will benefit from his knowledge and leadership. His wife Bradi also graduated from BA and currently teaches here so this is a family who truly knows and appreciates all that BA has to offer. This is a perfect fit for our girls program.”
