By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Mary Ward stunned her Benton High School girls basketball team, and a lot of other people, Tuesday with her decision to step down as the Lady Tigers’ head coach after 18 highly-accomplished seasons in that role, with 400 wins and a 2020 state championship.
But her assistant coaches weren’t caught off guard. Certainly not her husband, Randy, and her very close friend and fishing buddy Michelle Owens. Ward’s younger protégé, Lyndzee McConathy, sensed it might happen.
Still, the afternoon team meeting was emotional for everyone. And the reality that somebody else will be running the program, and Ward won’t be in gymnasiums around north Louisiana and beyond for countless days, nights and weekends around the calendar, is a little unsettling far past Benton.
“I don’t think anybody had an idea this was coming,” said Owens, “because Mary just pours everything into girls basketball at Benton High School. It shocked a lot of people, but when it’s time, you know it, like she said.”
Recently they discussed the decision as it solidified. Owens, alongside Ward on the Benton bench for every one of the program’s 607 games since 2006-07, said Ward’s impact is widespread.
“She’s so easy to work with and is such an inspiration not only to other coaches, but other players. She’s so respected all over the state,” said Owens.
“She is truly one of the staples of girls’ basketball in north Louisiana and across the state,” said McConathy, who is the daughter of very successful girls’ coaches at South Beauregard and played collegiately at Northwestern State.
Benton made three straight state championship game appearances in 2019-21. There were semifinal appearances at Marsh Madness in 2012 and 2018. Ward was also head coach at Bossier for three years before moving north, and began a year earlier as an assistant coach.
She also was a dynamic player at Baylor, still owning the single-game scoring record with 54 points against national power Texas.
For McConathy, who left the head coaching post at Airline last spring to rejoin Ward at Benton allowing the younger coach to put more focus on her own growing family, the last year has been inspiring.
“For the last 11 years, Mary Ward has been my mentor and my friend. I have learned so much about basketball, and blending the game of life with basketball, and being a great mother while still being a great coach,” she said. “My opportunity to come back to Benton and work under her again has been an incredible year. I’m extremely grateful for all I’ve learned from her.”
Ward explained being able to focus on family – son Ryan and daughter Emily are at LSU, with Emily a year removed from ending her playing career on LSU’s national championship team – and not having her schedule constrained by coaching duties is something she’s welcoming. She also looks back gratefully.
“The memories created, the relationships made and the lessons learned on and off the court will forever hold a special place in my heart,” she said. “I am grateful for the dedication of my coaching staff and he exceptional talents of the student-athletes who have graced our team.
“Together, we have achieved milestones,” said Ward.
It’s not like she’ll be stepping that far away. Ward will continue teaching business at Benton, and she and Owens will still spend many hours together – on the water, for sure.
“We’ll be friends forever. She’s as good a friend as you could hope to have. She’s a pretty good fisherman on the side, too,” said Owens.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com