All In The Family

For the Guffey family, basketball is their life. Darrell and Sonia Guffey may be husband and wife, but their bond went much deeper this season as the two shared the bench during the Grant County High School girls' basketball season.

Darrell served as the varsity coach, while Sonia was the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant. It marked the first time that the two had coached the same team together.

And the move proved to be a successful one, as both guided the Lady Braves to a 9-18 season in their first year at Grant County High School.

Grant County Athletic Director Scott Shipp said there was no issue with the husband-wife duo.

"It has worked out fantastic and is so exciting to see. They work out great together, and I am happy to have them here," Shipp said.

Darrell got involved in coaching as a way to stay in the game, while Sonia answered a phone call from the coach she played for and it evolved into a career.

While they both want their respective teams to be successful, both say the job never overshadows the fact that they are husband and wife.

"It's a job. On the floor, we are doing the best job that we can, and we are coaches coaching kids, but when the game is over, it's our time. We go back to being a husband, wife and family," Darrell said.

The fact that Darrell had to spend hours on the road scouting did not take time away from his commitments as a husband and father this season, according to Sonia.

Darrell said scouting trips often included their son, Mason, who would get excited about going to see other teams.

Sonia said being married to Darrell has allowed her to be more open to express her views as an assistant coach.

"It's been good coaching with him. I've been able to offer my thoughts on the team to him with our relationship," she said.

The season did take some getting used to.

"At first, it was an adjustment, but we enjoyed it," Sonia said.

"It has taken some time, but it has been a blast for both of us. It's been awkward at times, but there is never a question of loyalty," he said.

Not only was it an unusual position for the husband-wife coaching duo, but it was a situation the players had to get used to.

"We had never had that kind of make up of coaches before. Coach would say something, and then she would explain it during the game. They were always on the same page, and that made it enjoyable. I think they both both brought great experience and have been around the game a long time," senior Salena McIntosh said.

Fellow classmate Bethany Hopperton said that there was not a different feeling.

"They're both coaches, and they are both good at what they do. It was never a different feeling," she said.

With the season behind them, they look forward to spending time together but when basketball calls, both will be ready.

"We talk basketball nonstop. It's our life and our profession, and I love being able to talk to her about it," Darrell said.