Stacy McDonald, the head basketball coach of the Italy Lady Gladiators for the past three seasons, has taken a new head basketball coaching position at 5A Hebron High School in Carrollton. McDonald replaces, Roger Goldsmith, and will look to rebuild the Lady Hawks program in much the same way she did in Italy. The Lady Hawks finished 2011 with a 9-22-0 overall record and 0-13-0 within their league, last place.

If anyone can get the Lady Hawks flying in the right direction it would be, McDonald, who guided the Lady Gladiators back to the playoffs in 08-09 followed by a 1A Bi-District Championship in 09-10 with a 47-44 win over the Bosqueville Lady Bulldogs. 

For her efforts, McDonald earned District Coach Of The Year honors in 09-10 and had 12 separate players receive All-District recognition during her 3 year stint with the team. IHS returned to the 2A level in 10-11 and remained competitive despite the upgrade in competition.

“When I first came to Italy, this amazing little community opened up their hearts and immediately made me feel like family. From the cafe bringing me homemade chicken and dumplings for lunch to Varners coming and picking up my car for an oil change.

I remember riding in the first homecoming parade and seeing an entire community come out into the streets to cheer on their hometown heroes, the students of Italy High School. It was the sweetest most supportive thing I have ever experienced as a head coach. I will miss all of that so very much. I will also miss my girls. My kiddos truly became my family. I was, “Mama Mac,” as much as I was, “Coach Mac,” commented, Coach McDonald. "I was brought to Italy to build a girls basketball program. We started from the ground up. The girls were hungry, and although I demanded a lot, they excepted the challenge. The change from their hard work was visible on the court and in the classrooms. They became competitive basketball players and respectable student athletes who handled themselves like champions. They made me extremely proud to call them my Lady Gladiator basketball players. I feel confident in leaving that what we have built will remain. They know what it takes to be winners. They know how to work hard, set goals and accomplish them. I know that they will be very successful next year. I pray that they get a coach who will continue what we have built and who will love them because they are amazing young women whom I will miss very very much. I leave with a heavy heart and I will never forget Italy. However, God has a new chapter to begin in my life. I am excited to accept the challenge that Hebron brings."

McDonald closed her statement by adding, “I would like to thank the parents of my athletes for allowing me to share in their kids lives. I would like to thank the coaches that assisted me. I would like to thank my very dear friend Mrs. Snook for all of her support.”

McDonald will continue to reside in Waxahachie for the time being and make the commute to Hebron during the next school year.

We all wish, “Good luck,” to Coach McDonald, as well as to the Lady Hawks of Hebron, who are certainly getting an exceptional basketball coach.