Steve Mims Jr. to replace Bill Boyette as basketball coach at Fayetteville Academy
Monica Holland The Fayetteville Observer
One of the most dynamic developers of basketball talent in the area has been tapped to lead the boys’ basketball program at Fayetteville Academy.
Steve Mims Jr. has been hired as the Eagles’ coach, returning to the school where he served as an assistant under Bill Boyette, who retired after this past season.
A 1999 graduate of E.E. Smith, Mims played basketball at Wingate and then professionally in Germany and Mexico before returning home to join Brian Hurd’s staff at Fayetteville Tech.
Mims went on to become the middle school coach and varsity assistant at Fayetteville Academy, leading the middle school team to a conference title in 2019 and serving on the bench for that year’s 2-A independent schools’ state championship squad.
Mims spent last season as the head coach at Cape Fear Christian Academy in Erwin, leading his team to a share of the conference title with a 9-1 league record while going 24-8 overall.
He’s trained the most prominent basketball players to come out of Fayetteville recently, including Dennis Smith Jr., Joey Baker, Brandon Ingram, Josh Nickelberry and Greg Gantt.
But, to Mims, every student-athlete on his roster is important.
“You can’t get caught up in names because everyone needs you,” he said in a phone interview Friday. “There are different learning styles, but you have to offer the same respect and put in the same time. You have to create a culture. You’ve got to have a sound foundation.
“You’ll attract what you put into it.”
Mims’ own foundation is sound. His father, Fayetteville State Hall of Fame basketball player Steven V. Mims, was head coach at his alma mater, E.E. Smith. And Mims’ wife, Tiffany Roulhac, was an all-region basketball player at Terry Sanford before going on to play at Wake Forest. Her father played at Jacksonville University. Roulhac is an attorney in Fayetteville today, and she and Mims have three young children.
“We have a legacy around here,” Mims said. “I appreciate my family. They’ve been super supportive. To get to coach in front of them is a big deal for me.”
Mims does a lot of coaching on the AAU circuit, which keeps him busy almost year-round. But the work doesn’t outweigh the payoff. “You have to be in it for the right reasons -- trying to develop them and create accountability,” he said. “We’re showcasing them for college.”
Fayetteville Academy boasts a 100% graduation-to-college rate. That, along with the chance to coach with Boyette, led Mims to the Eagles three years ago.
Boyette, who played on UNC’s junior varsity team for coach Roy Williams and won state titles as a coach at Terry Sanford and Cary, was known for a defense-first coaching style.
Mims also worked closely with Academy athletic director Chip Bishop during his earlier stint with the Eagles.
“We’re glad he’s come back to be part of the family,” Bishop said.
The Academy went 0-8 last season with a young, inexperienced roster. “Coach Boyette probably worked harder last year than he’s ever worked before,” Bishop said. “All the kids worked hard, it just didn’t work out. But they got a lot of experience, so we’re looking for a better year.”
Mims is still putting in work on the summer circuit and looks to rebuild at Fayetteville Academy.
“It’s a grind but to get an opportunity to build a foundation with an amazing school, God had to have His hands on it,” Mims said.
A 6-foot-5 point guard, Mims, now 40, still has the athleticism to demonstrate action on the court. He’s not surprised by the level of talent in Fayetteville — he’s been part of the process. “Those experiences gave me wisdom,” he said of his work on the court and his time helping with his mother’s group homes business.
Back home in Fayetteville, where he’s had a hand in the development of so much talent and looking to help more, Mims’ enthusiasm is high.
“It’s not an accident that there’s a hype going on,” he said. “A lot of amazing things are about to happen.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver.com.
Monica Holland The Fayetteville Observer
One of the most dynamic developers of basketball talent in the area has been tapped to lead the boys’ basketball program at Fayetteville Academy.
Steve Mims Jr. has been hired as the Eagles’ coach, returning to the school where he served as an assistant under Bill Boyette, who retired after this past season.
A 1999 graduate of E.E. Smith, Mims played basketball at Wingate and then professionally in Germany and Mexico before returning home to join Brian Hurd’s staff at Fayetteville Tech.
Mims went on to become the middle school coach and varsity assistant at Fayetteville Academy, leading the middle school team to a conference title in 2019 and serving on the bench for that year’s 2-A independent schools’ state championship squad.
Mims spent last season as the head coach at Cape Fear Christian Academy in Erwin, leading his team to a share of the conference title with a 9-1 league record while going 24-8 overall.
He’s trained the most prominent basketball players to come out of Fayetteville recently, including Dennis Smith Jr., Joey Baker, Brandon Ingram, Josh Nickelberry and Greg Gantt.
But, to Mims, every student-athlete on his roster is important.
“You can’t get caught up in names because everyone needs you,” he said in a phone interview Friday. “There are different learning styles, but you have to offer the same respect and put in the same time. You have to create a culture. You’ve got to have a sound foundation.
“You’ll attract what you put into it.”
Mims’ own foundation is sound. His father, Fayetteville State Hall of Fame basketball player Steven V. Mims, was head coach at his alma mater, E.E. Smith. And Mims’ wife, Tiffany Roulhac, was an all-region basketball player at Terry Sanford before going on to play at Wake Forest. Her father played at Jacksonville University. Roulhac is an attorney in Fayetteville today, and she and Mims have three young children.
“We have a legacy around here,” Mims said. “I appreciate my family. They’ve been super supportive. To get to coach in front of them is a big deal for me.”
Mims does a lot of coaching on the AAU circuit, which keeps him busy almost year-round. But the work doesn’t outweigh the payoff. “You have to be in it for the right reasons -- trying to develop them and create accountability,” he said. “We’re showcasing them for college.”
Fayetteville Academy boasts a 100% graduation-to-college rate. That, along with the chance to coach with Boyette, led Mims to the Eagles three years ago.
Boyette, who played on UNC’s junior varsity team for coach Roy Williams and won state titles as a coach at Terry Sanford and Cary, was known for a defense-first coaching style.
Mims also worked closely with Academy athletic director Chip Bishop during his earlier stint with the Eagles.
“We’re glad he’s come back to be part of the family,” Bishop said.
The Academy went 0-8 last season with a young, inexperienced roster. “Coach Boyette probably worked harder last year than he’s ever worked before,” Bishop said. “All the kids worked hard, it just didn’t work out. But they got a lot of experience, so we’re looking for a better year.”
Mims is still putting in work on the summer circuit and looks to rebuild at Fayetteville Academy.
“It’s a grind but to get an opportunity to build a foundation with an amazing school, God had to have His hands on it,” Mims said.
A 6-foot-5 point guard, Mims, now 40, still has the athleticism to demonstrate action on the court. He’s not surprised by the level of talent in Fayetteville — he’s been part of the process. “Those experiences gave me wisdom,” he said of his work on the court and his time helping with his mother’s group homes business.
Back home in Fayetteville, where he’s had a hand in the development of so much talent and looking to help more, Mims’ enthusiasm is high.
“It’s not an accident that there’s a hype going on,” he said. “A lot of amazing things are about to happen.”
Sports editor Monica Holland can be reached at mholland@fayobserver.com.
