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Southside High School boys basketball coach Kelvin Lett is named the inaugural Chris Harrell Coach of the Year.

Lett guided the Panthers to the Class 3A state semifinals in his first season.

Bruce Holmes Sr. and his wife, Linda Holmes, presented the award to Lett, The Selma Times-Journal boys basketball coach of the year.

The trophy is named after Harrell, a longtime Dallas County High School basketball assistant coach who was killed in a robbery on February 5, 2021.

Harrell was well known as a mentor as a Hornets’ basketball coach. Harrell was an assistant coach on the Hornets’ squad that won the Class 4A championship during the 2013-2014 season.

Bruce Holmes said that Lett represented what Harrell did on and off the basketball court.

“The award honors the spirit of Chris Harrell, who set the standard for loyalty, epitomized great ability combined with diligence, perseverance and hard work,” Bruce Holmes said.

The trophy will be given to the top basketball coach in Dallas County by Holmes after each season.

The Southside football team the inaugural Christopher Harrell Memorial Trophy last year.

The Panthers swept three Dallas County public schools they played: Selma High School Keith High School and Dallas County High School.