ATLANTA (March 22, 2017) — Georgetown (Texas) High School head coach Rhonda Farney is the 2017 United States Marine Corps/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Farney will be presented with the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach and awarded annually to the United States Marine Corps/WBCA National Coach of the Year in each of the WBCA’s six membership divisions, during the 2017 WBCA Convention, which will be held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in Dallas.
"The WBCA is proud to name Rhonda Farney as the 2017 United States Marine Corps/WBCA High School National Coach of the Year," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. "Rhonda was selected as the winner by her peers after leading her team to an exceptional season. The WBCA recognizes and applauds her leadership example that can be seen in her student-athletes, school and community.”
Farney is in her 29th season with the Lady Eagles. During her time, Farney has paced squads to 26 state playoff visits and back-to-back University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 4A state tournaments (2013, 2014). In 2013, the Lady Eagles won the state title.
In 2014, Farney recorded her 1,000-career victory, was inducted into the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Hall of Fame, and received the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. Other honors include National Federation of High School Coaches 2013 National Coach of the Year, member of the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), and seven-time WBCA Victory Club award recipient.
More than 66 student-athletes coached by Farney have moved on to play collegiate basketball.
“The Marine Corps proudly recognizes Rhonda Farney for her exemplary leadership and dedication to the young women of the Georgetown High School Lady Eagles,” said Lieutenant Colonel Brian Proctor, assistant chief of staff, diversity, Marine Corps recruiting command. “Farney demonstrates the core values upheld by those who hold the title Marine. The Marine Corps is honored to celebrate her fighting spirit, determination and excellence both as coach and mentor of the next generation of leaders.”
The high school national coach of the year is selected by a committee of coaches. This year’s finalists for the award were:
- Craig Campbell, West High School (CA)
- Randy Coffman, Riverdale High School (TN)
- Colby Davis Patsusek, The Colony High School (TX)
- Yannick Denson, Legacy Christian Academy (TX)
- Gene Durden, Buford High school (GA)
- Terry English, Bishop Miege High School (KS)
- Rhonda Farney, Georgetown High School (TX)
- Lisa Kukoda, Manasquan High School (NJ)
- John Noonan, Ursuline Academy (DE)
- Jonathon Scribner, St. John’s High School (DC)
- Karen Self, Seton Catholic Prepatory (AZ)
- Skip Townsend, Argyle High School (TX)
Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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