Riverside Academy has new basketball coaches for the 2021-2022 season. Donovan Maryland will coach the boys team and John Smith will coach the girls. 

Maryland replaces the legendary Timmy Byrd, who stepped down after 12 seasons at the school with five state titles. Maryland was Byrd’s assistant coach for the past six seasons.

Smith, who played prep ball at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, has been on staff at Riverside since 2013 and has coached youth travel teams for nearly a decade. He replaces Kevin Dizer, who also stepped down as basketball coach after last season. Just recently Dizer announced his resignation as the Rebels’ head football coach. The Lady Rebels made school history in 2018 by reaching the Division III semifinals.

The girls opened their season Nov. 16 against Dominican. The boys opened Nov. 17 against East Ascension.