By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka High standout Brittney Redmond is coming home to take over the Trojans' girls basketball program.
Redmond, a 2011 High graduate, was approved as the Trojans' new head coach by the USD 501 school board Thursday night to replace Hannah Alexander, who resigned in April to accept a job at Andover High.
Brittney Redmond, a 2011 Topeka High graduate, has been named the Trojans' new head girls basketball coach. Redmond was approved by the USD 501 School Board Thursday night. [Submitted photo]
Redmond has served as an assistant coach at four junior colleges, including her most recent stop at Clarendon College, but said she had always had an interest in returning to her alma mater at some point to coach.
"If I was going to coach high school it was definitely going to be at Topeka High,'' Redmond said. "I didn't think it would be this soon but I did want to come back and give back to the community and possibly coach.''
Redmond takes over a Trojan program that has made four straight appearances in the Class 6A state tournament, with a pair of state runner-up appearances.
Topeka High posted a 20-3 record this past season and dropped a 33-32 decision to Blue Valley in the opening round of the state tournament.
Redmond said she knows the bar is set high at Topeka High and is eager to get started in her new position.
"Just coming from the college world I'm pretty up to speed with how practices are run and preparing for games, so I would say I'm ready,'' Redmond said.
Following her Topeka High career, Redmond played two seasons at Allen County Community College and then played at the University of West Alabama.
Redmond began her coaching career at Southwestern Oregon Community College and then coached at Colby and Garden City before coaching last season at Clarendon College in Texas.
Redmond said she'll take advantage of the summer to get to know her new team and get prepared for the 2022-2023 season.
The Trojans return several key players this year's team, including Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year Kiki Smith, who will be a senior.
"We're going to hit the ground running as soon as we're able to do so,'' Redmond said. "I feel like a lot of people believe in me and they know I'm going to keep the ball rolling at Topeka High.''
