Tag: Nikki McCray-Penson

Athletes and sports figures who have died in 2023

The notable athletes, broadcasters, and sports figures we’ve lost so far in 2023.

Rutgers women’s basketball will play an exhibition game in honor of Nikki McCray-Penson

Rutgers women’s basketball will travel to South Carolina to honor Nikki McCray-Penson, a former assistant coach who passed away in July.

Rutgers women’s basketball will play South Carolina in an exhibition game . The game will honor Nikki McCray-Penson, a former assistant coach on both staffs during her coaching career.

Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington announced on Wednesday that the Scarlet Knights and the Gamecocks will honor the former University of Tennessee All-American point guard after she passed away in July from a long battle with breast cancer.

Throughout the game, both teams will raise funds for In the Middle, a non-profit organization in Columbia that provides financial assistance to women battling breast cancer and their families. The non-profit organization helps with medical expenses and raises funds for its scholarship program for children of breast cancer patients.

[lawrence-related id=29340]

McCray-Penson helped capture three consecutive conference titles and two tournament championships at the University of Tennessee. Also, she was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time All-Star in the W.N.B.A. The Collierville, Tennessee, native was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame after her playing career.

McCray-Penson started her coaching career as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky (2006-08) before joining the staff at South Carolina (2008-17). She guided the Gamecocks to a national powerhouse, capturing the 2017 National Championship in her last year as an assistant coach.

[lawrence-related id=30502]

After South Carolina, McCray-Penson landed her first head coaching job at Old Dominion (2017-20) and then transferred to Mississippi State (2020-21). In 2021, McCray-Penson had to step down as head coach because of health reasons.

After one year of stepping away from basketball, she landed an assistant coaching job with the Scarlet Knight (2022-23). While with Rutgers, she helped guide the program to its 1,000th win in program history. Before entering her second season as an assistant coach for the Scarlet Knights, McCray-Penson passed away after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

 

Former Lady Vol Nikki McCray-Penson dies

Former Lady Vol Nikki McCray-Penson dies.

Former Tennessee basketball player Nikki McCray-Penson passed away Friday.

She was 51.

McCray-Penson was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a two-time SEC Player of the Year. She is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

McCray-Penson served as an assistant coach at Rutgers from 2022-23.

She played for Tennessee from 1991-95 under head coach Pat Summitt.

McCray-Penson appeared in 127 games for the Lady Vols and averaged 12.4 points per game and scored 1,572 career points.

She was a two-time Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Naismith All-American and helped Tennessee win three SEC regular-season titles and two SEC Tournament championships.

McCray-Penson played in the WNBA and was the 1997 ABL MVP.

After her playing career, she served as head coach at Old Dominion (2017-20) and Mississippi State (2020-21). McCray-Penson was the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2020.

She also served as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky and South Carolina.

Nikki McCray-Penson resigns as Mississippi State’s women’s basketball head coach

Former Lady Vol Nikki-McCray-Penson steps down as Mississippi State women’s basketball head coach.

Nikki McCray-Penson has resigned as Mississippi State’s women’s basketball head coach.

McCray-Penson, a former player for the Lady Vols under legendary head coach Pat Summitt, stepped down Tuesday to focus on her health, the school announced.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 when serving as an assistant coach at South Carolina.

“Over the past several weeks, I have been faced again with I had hoped were behind me,” McCray-Penson said in a school press release. “In light of these developments, I have decided to step away from coaching in order to devote my full time and energy to addressing those issues.

“Although I look forward to returning to coaching when I am able, I believe this is the best decision for me and my family at this time.”

McCray-Penson played at Tennessee between 1991-95 and was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and a two-time Kodak All-America standout during her junior and senior seasons for the Lady Vols.

As a professional player, she was a three-time WNBA all-star (1999-2001) and the ABL Most Valuable Player in 1997.

She began coaching as an assistant at Western Kentucky before moving on to South Carolina.

McCray-Penson became the head coach at Old Dominion in 2017. She remained with the Monarchs until 2020 and was the Conference USA Coach of the Year in her final season.

Last season was her first with the Bulldogs. Mississippi State was 10-9 in a COVID-19-shortened season and missed the NCAA Tournament.

She was a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 1996 and 2000.

[vertical-gallery id=31959]