ALA basketball coach leaving for in-town private school job. Here’s what to know
Another Midlands program is looking for a new basketball coach.
Tyson Bouknight is resigning after two seasons as the boys’ basketball coach at American Leadership in Lexington. Bouknight told The State he’s joining the Ben Lippen boys’ basketball coaching staff as an assistant for head coach Jay Reid. Both Bouknight and Reid are Lexington High grads and played for Bailey Harris.
Bouknight, who’s 47, is the only coach in the ALA program’s brief two-year history, and led the Patriots to a 20-9 record this season and a trip to the Class 2A Upper State championship.
“Ben Lippen offered me something I couldn’t refuse just to be a varsity assistant. It was an easy decision,” Bouknight said. “... I have known Jay forever. His dad and my dad used to coach together with Bailey Harris at Lexington. So, it is kind of reunion.”
Another factor in Bouknight’s decision was ALA’s facilities. He said a new gymnasium with a hardwood floor might not be finished until next year. The school’s current gym doesn’t have hardwood floor and also doubles as their cafeteria.
Bouknight will continue to work his regular job in foster care in addition to his coaching duties with the Falcons. Ben Lippen went 22-10 this season.
Who is Tyson Bouknight?
Bouknight played at Lexington in the mid-1990s and was on the Wildcats’ 1996 state title team and two other state semifinal squads. With a mix of transfers and players from last year’s inaugural team that went 7-18, ALA made a deep playoff run with 13 seniors on the roster.
Before landing at ALA, Bouknight was an assistant at Lexington and White Knoll high schools and head coach at Pleasant Hill Middle school.
Other area schools have basketball openings
ALA joins Gilbert, Swansea, Spring Valley and Richland Northeast as area schools with boys basketball openings. American Leadership Blythewood also is looking for its first coach. The school will open for 2026-27 season.
River Bluff filled its opening this week with the hire of Dorman assistant Will Clarke.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 1:58 PM.
