Athena McCoy [Basketball '16]

Athena McCoy made waves in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, playing basketball from 1994 to 1997. 

In 1994, McCoy was named to the Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa World 3A State Tournament Team. In 1995 she was named to the Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa World 4A State Tournament Team, along with the Muskogee Phoenix and the Southwest Times Record All Area Team.

In 1996 McCoy was named the 4A State Tournament MVP by the Daily Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, the Daily Oklahoman All-State Player, the Muskogee Phoenix and the Southwest Times Record MVP, named to the Coweta All-Tournament Team, and given the Cherokee Nation Special Recognition Award. She also tied the Single Game State Tournament record, by scoring 36 points.

In 1997, she was named to OGBCA All-State, the Hall of Fame All-Star Team, named to the Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa World 4A State Tournament Team, the OCA Regional Female Athlete of the year, the Daily Oklahoman Player to Watch, named to the Port City Classic All-Tournament Team, the Muskogee Phoenix All Area MVP, and set the All-Time State Tournament Career Scoring Record with 177 points, 43 above second place, at the time.

After graduation, McCoy came to Connors State where she played and was named to the Region II Women’s Basketball Team and was awarded the Kodak Women’s All-American Honorable Mention. McCoy graduated from Connors in 1999, moving on to play ball for the University of Tulsa.

After graduation from TU, she took a position at Claremore Elementary, and later Okay Elementary as a 4th grade teacher. She also held the position of assistant basketball coach and assistant volleyball coach at Sequoyah High School and the head basketball coach at Sallisaw High School.

Currently, McCoy is teaching and coaching at Marble City School, but says her most rewarding job is being a mother to her two sons, Michael and Zane, who are both very active in sports.