Coach McClanahan receives national award
Physical Education teacher and former girls basketball coach Mrs. Denise McClanahan received the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award from the National Federation of High School (NFHS) for her Lady Mac and Jr. Lady Mac summer league, her high intensity basketball camp in the 90’s, and her involvement with Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
McClanahan began Lady Mac 22 years ago starting with 70 kids from six different schools. She began the league because she believed it wasn’t fair to ask kids to get better if you didn’t provide the opportunity. Today Lady Mac has 450 athletes at the high school level and 330 at the middle school level.
“Started out with 67 kids at SHS using two gyms, now it’s 12 gyms, four games, two nights a week in order to give players the most chance to improve,” said Mrs. Denise McClanahan.
McClanahan has had 141 teams for AAU leagues and has won six state championships, has had 6 state runner-up titles and has advanced to the national tournament twelve times.
