Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA, Ga. -- RUSSELL ATHLETIC and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) have selected Christ the King's girl's basketball head coach Bob Mackey as the 2005 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year. Mackey becomes the 16th coach in history to receive this accolade, which has been awarded by the WBCA since 1990. With receiving this prestigious award comes the honor of serving as a head coach at the WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike during the "WBCA Night of All-Stars" on Saturday, April 2 at the University of Indianapolis' Nicoson Hall.

"Bob Mackey has a true passion for the game and his credentials speak for themselves," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "The WBCA is honored to present Bob with the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/ WBCA National Coach of the Year award."

Mackey has coached high school basketball for 20 years. As an assistant varsity coach at Christ the King, Mackey won nine New York State championships. USA Today ranked Christ the King the number one high school's women varsity basketball team in 1990, 1993 and 1998.

During his six-year tenure at the helm of Christ the King, Mackey won the New York State championship in 2000 and the New York State Catholic championships in 2000 through 2004. In 2003, Mackey finished the season with the school's 19th consecutive New York State Catholic championship and topped the year off with over 100 wins in four years.

Mackey was recognized as the New York Newsday and New York Daily News Coach of the Year in 2000. He was also honored by the New York State Coaches Association as High School Coach of the Year in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Mackey finished the 2004-2005 regular season undefeated with a record of 23-0. The Lady Royals are currently ranked No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25 girls' basketball rankings.

"Russell Athletic is honored to congratulate Bob Mackey, the 2005 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year. With a deep commitment to supporting female athletes and elevating their athletic performance on the court, Russell Athletic shares Coach Mackey's passion for competition and devotion to preserving the integrity of sport," said Rod McGeachy, Vice President of Marketing for Russell Athletic. "We have the utmost respect and admiration for Coach Mackey, and we applaud his dedication to mentoring young female athletes on and off the basketball court."

RUSSELL ATHLETIC and the WBCA would additionally like to congratulate the other eight District Coaches of the Year: Elaine Clement-Holbrook (District 1 - Oliver Ames High School - North Easton, Mass.); Joy Couch (District 3 - Dorman High School - Roebuck, S.C.); Dave Power (District 4 - Fenwick High School - Oak Park, Ill.); Scott De Jong (District 5 - Ankeny Senior High School - Ankeny, Iowa); Doug Lechtenberger (District 6 - John Foster Dulles High School - Sugar Land, Texas); Diane Moser (District 7 - Tongue River High School - Dayton, Wyo.); Carl Buggs (District 8 - Long Beach Poly High School, Long Beach, Calif.); Fran Braasch (District 9 - Vestavia Hills High School - Vestavia Hills, Ala.).

Each winner is selected through a two-level process. The first level is by District, in which coaches from each WBCA geographical district vote for their respective top coach. Mackey, having been named the District Two Coach of the Year, advanced as a finalist to the national level of the selection process along with the other eight District Coaches of the Year in high school. The top four vote getters are invited to coach in the WBCA High School All-America Game unless they have received this honor in the past five years.

The coaching line-up has also been selected for the White and Red Team for the 14th Annual WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike. The head coach of the White Team will be WBCA National High School Coach of the Year winner Bob Mackey (Christ the King), while Scott De Jong, head coach at Ankeny Senior High School will lead the Red Team. Serving as an assistant for the White Team is Dorman High School head coach Joy Couch, and for the Red Team will be Doug Lechtenberger, head coach at John Foster Dulles High School.

Mackey and the national winners from the other five divisions will be presented to the WBCA membership at the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year Luncheon on Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00 p.m., at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The luncheon is part of the 2005 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.