Coaches
Panola College Volleyball
HEAD COACH
Nicole McCray
Former University of Florida All-American middle blocker Nicole McCray has been named head coach at Panola College. McCray led the Eagles to a 14-14 record in 2006 including winning the GSU Invitational and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Southern Conference Tournament. In 2007 the Eagles lost to conference powerhouse, the College of Charleston in the first round of the tournament. McCray came to GSU having spent one year as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia. Prior to that experience, she served as head coach at Berry College in Rome, Ga., where she led the Vikings to an amazing turnaround that saw the team improve from a 10-25 season in its first year to 22-17 in its second. She coached three all-conference players in 2004, including the Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year. McCray was the first African-American head coach and the first female head coach in school history at Berry.
The Longview, Texas native is well-known in volleyball circles for her accomplishments at Florida, where she helped lead the Gators to the 2002 NCAA Final Four as a senior and was a member of five straight Southeastern Conference championships, which includes a red-shirt year as freshman. The Gators also reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight twice and sweet Sixteen once while McCray was in uniform. Florida advanced to the Final Four in 1998 and 2002. A second-team All-American in 2002, she also earned honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore and junior. McCray was recognized as the SEC’s Conference Player of the Year in 2000 and was a four-time All-SEC selection. McCray graduated as Florida’s second-leading blocker with 529 total blocks, and her name appears throughout the Gators’ record books. When she graduated, McCray was fourth on UF’s career kills list (1,274 kills), seventh in hitting percentage (.352), eighth in games played (442), 10th in total attacks (2,533) and 10th in matches played (137). Her .402 hitting percentage in 2002 is the fifth best single season mark in school history. As a senior, she was the recipient of the Ben Hill Griffin Award, honoring Florida’s top female student-athlete. She was also awarded the Sophia Witherspoon Award, presented to the top male and female athletes who exemplify the positive attitude and strong work ethic in the classroom that they display on the playing field. As a senior she received the Tracey Caulkins Award, given to the senior who possesses the traits of academic achievement, athletic achievement, leadership and involvement in the community. McCray also played professionally in Puerto Rico’s Superior League for the Conquistadoras de Guaynabo, based in San Juan, which competed for the league’s championship in 2003.
Prior to her stint at Florida, McCray played internationally for the United States Junior National Team in 1998 and the USA Youth National Team in 1997. She was a first-team All-State selection for four years at Pine Tree High School and a two-time District MVP. She played club volleyball for East Texas Juniors and Texas Sport under Todd Lyles who has been named assistant coach at Panola College. In 1998, she was inducted into the Pine Tree High School Hall of Fame for her academic and athletic achievements during her four years. She received her B.S. in commercial recreation from Florida in May 2002. McCray’s younger sister Amber, finished her career in the fall of 2007 as a dominate force on the right-side for Florida. Amber received a number of All-Tournament and MVP awards as well as being named an All-American in 2006. Amber is currently at Florida getting her Master’s Degree in Sport Management. Nicole resides in Longview, TX with her son Jordan Isaiah (Born February, 2, 2007).
ASSISTANT COACH
Todd Lyles
Coach Lyles is entering his first season at Panola College. Lyles, a graduate from the University of Houston, has a long history of playing and club coaching experience. During Coach Lyles’ coaching career, he has coached for various clubs in the Texas area. In addition to coaching club, Lyles has worked volleyball camps and clinics at both Universities and High Schools. During Lyles’ employment with Texas Sport Juniors and East Texas Juniors, Lyles coached Nicole McCray throughout her club playing career. “Todd is a great addition to our program. He knows the game well and I think our players respond well to him. I am very excited to have Todd on our team and I look forward to working with him”.
Revised 10/01/2008