The basketball programs at Savannah Country Day School will be under new leadership this season after the school announced the hiring of two new coaches and the departure of two former ones.
Mac Tamminen replaces Demetrius Smith as the boys head coach while Kenny Conroy replaces Amy Brooks as the head coach of the Hornet girls.
Tamminen was the head boys coach for John Paul II (SC) over the last five years. He compiled a record of 62-57 (.521) while he was there. Conroy was hired as the new SCD Athletics Director on March 7, 2022 after serving as the AD and girl’s basketball coach at Hilton Head Christian from 2011-2022.
When Conroy was hired as the AD, he named Tamminen the girls basketball coach for the Hornets, but when Smith resigned his position as the boys coach last weekend, Conroy shifted into the girls coach role while Tamminen moved over to the boys side of the program.
"Mac is a strong defensive coach who likes to get pressure on the ball and get the ball up and down the court," Conroy said in a school-issued release on the SCDS website. "I think he's going to be a great fit at Savannah Country Day."
He also talked about his plans for the girls team, and noted the two coaches will be working together across the girls and boys programs.
"I'm looking forward to coaching the girls. I've worked with them this summer and they like to get after it," Conroy said. “I think they will enjoy our style of play. Mac and I will be assisting each other with the girls' and boys teams.”
Both Smith and Brooks were objectively successful in their times leading the Hornet hoops programs.
Brooks was the Savannah Morning News Coach of the Year last season as she led the Hornets to back-to-back Region 3-A Private titles in her only two seasons at the helm. She was 40-10 overall and guided the Hornets to the Sweet 16 in both seasons. Smith was 49-34 in three seasons at Country Day, taking the Hornets to the GHSA Elite 8 in 2021 while winning a region championship that season as well.
“I’m always grateful for the opportunity to help build something,” Smith said in a text message exchange with PSR on July 9. “It’s time for me to move on.”
Under Conroy’s guidance, Hilton Head Christian Academy experienced incredible success as he posted a record of 363-83 (.814) during his time as head coach. He was named a region Coach of the Year nine times. HHCA won the SCISA Class 2A state championship in 2021-22 – it was the program’s fourth straight state title and Conroy’s fifth overall.
Keep up with Country Day athletics by following the school on Twitter, @SCDS_athletics.
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo credit: Savannah Country Day Athletic Department
Optim Orthopedics supports Savannah Country Day athletics. The team doctor for Savannah Country Day is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
