Former Northview and Bowling Green State University basketball player Niki McCoy has been hired as the next girls basketball coach at Maumee Valley Country Day School.
McCoy's first task is to restore the Hawks' varsity program which, along with fellow Toledo Area Athletic Conference member Emmanuel Christian, was unable to field a varsity squad for the 2023-24 season.
“I am excited for the opportunity to build a program that prioritizes player mental health, and a winning mindset while setting and holding high expectations,” McCoy said in a media announcement released by the school. “I believe Maumee Valley is a perfect place to set a standard of success at the very beginning of this rebuilding process, both on and off the court.”
While playing for Ohio hall-of-fame coach Jerry Sigler at Northview, McCoy helped the Wildcats reach back-to-back Division I state semifinal appearances in 2004 and 2005. She moved on to play in the Mid-American Conference at Akron University for two seasons before transferring to BGSU to finish her career.
“We are beyond excited to have Coach McCoy and her staff take over our program,” Maumee Valley athletic director Rob Conover said. “Niki is a builder of people and programs. She understands the current state of our program, and is excited for the opportunity to build it back stronger than ever. I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to work with coach McCoy.”
McCoy earned first team D-I All-Ohio honors as a senior in 2005 after receiving special-mention state recognition as a junior at Northview. She was inducted into the Sylvania Schools athletics hall of fame.
Between Akron and BGSU she scored 1,145 career points in three seasons, earning third team All-MAC honors with the Zips in 2006-07, when she averaged 16.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
“The timing is ideal,” McCoy said of taking the Maumee Valley post, “and I have seen the talent and drive of current athletes and younger players coming up. I can’t wait to start working and developing our teams.
“I am truly looking forward to getting started, and showing our players that I am committed to battling alongside them to achieve every goal we set as a program.”
NAPOLEON HALL OF FAME
Napoleon High School will add six new members to its athletic hall of fame at ceremonies scheduled for Sept. 6-7.
Being inducted will be Sam Sexton from the Class of 1961 (football, basketball, track), David Helberg (1967; football, cross country, basketball, baseball, track), Ryan Funchion (2004; football, basketball, track), Jesse Sworden (2012; swimming, water polo), Spencer Witt (2012; football, swimming, track), and Jordan Lauf (2013; football, soccer, basketball, track).
These additions will bring the number of total inductees up to 137 since the Napoleon hall of fame was established in 2002.
On Sept. 6, when the Wildcats host Northview in football, the class will be honored at halftime of the game. The induction ceremony is set for Sept. 7 at the Bert G. Taylor American Legion Post No. 300 at 6 p.m.
First Published May 15, 2024, 12:53 a.m.
