McCoy leaving PV
- Updated: August 4, 2017
Raiders basketball coach resigns after two seasons to take another teaching assignment
NOTE: This story has been updated to include statement by McCoy
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – The Pleasant Valley basketball team starts school Monday in search of a new basketball coach after second-year coach Ryan McCoy stepped down Wednesday to pursue other teaching opportunities outside the district.
PV principal Mark Proper confirmed the decision. There was no immediate replacement named and a search for a new coach was about to commence.
“Right now I’m still kind of in shock I’m going to have to be looking for a basketball coach,” Proper said. “Right now we’ll try to move forward and try to find the best fit for Pleasant Valley High School.”
The son of a college coach, McCoy was brought in to help rebuild the Raiders’ basketball program. He had a good year in his first season at PV and scored the program’s first win in the Calhoun County Tournament in four years, but the Raiders struggled last season under a rash of injuries and didn’t get their first victory until late in the season.
“I know they wanted to rebuild; we’re in that process,” McCoy said after that 2016 tournament victory over Donoho. “Everything my bunch has done is new, that’s what I can go off of. It’s not great, but it’s better than they were when we started.”
With school about to start in both locations, it has been a hectic couple days for McCoy. He provided a hand-written statement on his decision to leave Thursday night in which he thanked the players, families and faculty and staff at PV. Here is the text of his statement:
“First of all, I would like to thank all of my players over the past two years,” he wrote. “They are the reason this decision was so hard for me. I get to work with great kids every day and I feel like we made progress inside the basketball program during my time.
“Secondly, I would like to thank the families of my players. There have been more texts and calls of support in the last 24 hours than I can count.
“I truly hate the timing of my move for everyone concerned. As I told my guys I have been up-front and transparent with them from Day One and my family comes first, and this move is about what is best for my family.
“I would like to thank coach (Jonathan) Nix and all of the faculty and staff for all of their support and the opportunity they gave me, and I wish nothing but success in the future.”
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