Former ODU women’s basketball coach Nikki McCray dies at 51
Former Old Dominion women’s basketball coach Nikki McCray-Penson died Friday, according to multiple reports.
McCray, 51, had fought breast cancer during her time as a coach.
Old Dominion was McCray-Penson’s first head coaching gig during a career that started in 2006 when she was an assistant at Western Kentucky.
“It’s a challenge to put into words how devastating the news of Nikki McCray-Penson’s death is for all of us associated with ODU,” ODU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said in a release. Nikki had a lasting impact on the game of basketball across the globe as she enjoyed the pinnacle of success on the world’s biggest stages both as an athlete and a coach.”
McCray-Penson — a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer who starred as a player at Tennessee and in the WNBA — was hired by ODU in 2017 after spending 2008 to 2017 as an assistant coach at South Carolina. She played an integral role in building the Gamecocks women’s basketball program, winning a national title in 2017 and helping mold it into the powerhouse it is today.
The Monarchs were 70-54 during McCray’s four seasons at the helm, including back-to-back seasons with more than 20 wins.
“From the first day I met Nikki, I knew she would experience the same success as a coach that she experienced as an athlete,” Selig said. “Her drive, passion, enthusiasm and love for the game made everyone around her better and motivated everyone to work harder to achieve the high standard of excellence that Nikki always expected. It is such a shame that the world and future student-athletes will never get to enjoy Coach McCray-Penson fulfilling her coaching career. Nikki’s husband Thomas and son Thomas, Jr. are in all Monarch’s thoughts and prayers at this time. The ODU women’s basketball program is better today because of the many contributions made by Nikki and her family while they we here in Norfolk.”
McCray-Penson was named the 2019-2020 Conference USA Coach of the Year after she led ODU to a 25-6 record.
She eventually left ODU to take the head coaching job at Mississippi State, where she stayed for a year before stepping down due to health concerns.
After taking a year off, she was an assistant at Rutgers last year.
McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. She played point guard at Tennessee from 1991-1995 under legendary coach Pat Summitt and was a two-time SEC Player of the Year.
“I am heartbroken getting the news that we lost Nikki McCray,” ODU legend and hall of famer Nancy Lieberman said in a release. “She was an incredible mom and a great in our game from Tennessee to USA Olympic teams and then taking her knowledge and kindness to the coaching rinks. We are all better for having known her and Nikki being in our lives. The ODU Monarch family is hurting today for this beautiful woman. May she rest in paradise.”
She won gold medals with the US women’s basketball team in the 1996 and 200 Olympics and was a three-time all-star in the WNBA during her eight-season career.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former teammate and friend Nikki McCray-Penson,” ODU women’s basketball head coach DeLisha Milton-Jones said in a release. “Nikki courageously fought hard for others on and off the court and her legacy left will be lasting. She was a tremendous person, teammate, coach and mentor to me and hundreds of other women in the game of basketball. She will be deeply missed.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Michael Sauls, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com, (757) 803-5775
