By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Shelby County High School’s new boys’ basketball coach, Torriana “Torri” Brown, said he’s “replacing a legend” when he took the coaching job.

“(Former boys’ basketball) Coach (Charles) Dickinson has been wonderful. He’s just been great to go ask questions. He’s been great to have around,” Brown said. “He built this program from the ground up.

“He’s done a lot of outstanding things in the community, on the basketball court and in the school system,” he added. “I have big shoes to fill.”

While Brown and his family currently live in Anniston, he plans to move his wife and children to Columbiana in the near future.

“We want to move very close to the school and have our kids attend the elementary school right there in Columbiana,” he said.

Brown and his wife, Deidra, have been married for seven years and have three children, 5-year-old Kyron, 3-year-old Kennedy Grace and 1-year-old Kaden.

“I had a great opportunity,” Brown said. “I had been teaching at Hoover for the last four years and Talladega High School before that. It was about taking on another challenge in life. The opportunity presented itself in Shelby County, which has a great history academically and athletically.”

Brown said he’s looking forward to basketball season.

“I’m excited and have a great group of kids coming back, six or seven kids played varsity basketball last year,” he said. “They’re very young, very talented kids, and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

In addition to coaching basketball, Brown teaches 10th grade U.S. colonial history.

“Classes are going great. It’s a great group of kids. They’ve done everything I’ve asked them and more,” Brown said. “The teachers have been so helpful.

“It’s been great; the transition has been very smooth. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms,” Brown said. “It’s been a wonderful transition so far.”