Panola College Names McCray new Volleyball Coach

Thursday night, the Panola College Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Candice Nicole McCray as the new Head Volleyball Coach.

Ms. McCray, is a 1998 graduate of Pine Tree High School.  A three time NCAA All-American at the University of Florida, where she received her bachelors degree, she led the Gators to four Southeastern Conference Championships and four trips to the NCAA National Tournament, twice to the semi finals.  McCray was also selected to the Southeastern All-Conference Team four times and was the Southeastern Conference Player of the year in 2000.

After a year of playing professional volleyball in Puerto Rico, Nicole McCray returned to Gainesville, FL to begin her coaching career.  In 2004 she accepted the head coaching job at Berry College in Georgia.  In the one year that she coached at Berry College she immediately turned their program into success with their first trip ever to the regional tournament.  In 2005 she joined the coaching staff at the University of Georgia.  For the last two seasons she has been the Head Coach at Georgia Southern University.  In just two years she turned their program into a conference contender.

“We are excited about having someone of her caliber to lead our volleyball program.   She has excelled as a player to the highest levels of the sport, as a coach, and as a person,” stated Don Clinton, Vice President of Student Services.  “She brings a great winning tradition with her from her experiences as a player and coach, plus with her family.  Both of her parents  played basketball at Panola College.  Her mother played on the first Panola Fillies teams coached by legendary coach, Mary Ann Otwell, that went to the first NJCAA National Tournament.”