Garner will be the next AD at North Stokes

DANBURY — North Stokes’ guidance counselor and volleyball coach Kierston Garner will be the school’s next athletic director after Scott Smith stepped down after holding the job for the past three years.

“When I found out that Scott Smith would be stepping down as AD, I knew that I had an interest,” said Garner. “If you know me, you know that sports has played a major role in my life and being able to lead a department is something I feel prepared for.

“However, the care for the student-athletes and building strong connections to their high school athletic experience is the ultimate goal. Mr. Smith has built a strong foundation for me to build on with the current state of the program and I know that if I need help, he will not hesitate to throw in his advice and wisdom.”

Smith was named the 2022-23 Best of Preps Athletic Director of the Year that covers Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, East Wilkes, and Carroll County, Va.

“It was time for a change,” noted Smith. “Retirement is around the corner for me, and I wanted to put our athletic programs in the best possible position that I could. I thought it was best that I stepped down to give someone else a chance, that way I could help, if needed. KG is a great choice; she will do well.”

Garner wants to continue building on the foundation that Smith and previous athletic directors have put in place. Her goal is to continue to heighten the standards for North Stokes Athletics.

Garner has six years of experience at the college level in athletics and it has helped teach her some of the ins and outs of the administration side of sports, she said.

“It has also allowed me to bring ideas to the table as a coach over the past few years that maybe we didn’t think about before,” the coach noted. “I was born and raised in this community and attended school here along with my siblings. Therefore I know what memories I cherish of my time here. I want to ensure that I can help the student-athletes here at North have similar experiences if not better.”

Garner will enter her third year as the school’s volleyball coach. Smith will continue coaching girls’ basketball and soccer.