McWilliams Inducted Into BCAT Hall of Fame, BCAT All-Stars Honored

by Rusty Ellis

Upperman head coach Dana McWilliams was one of four coaches inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Hall of Fame on Friday night, as BCAT held their first All-Star Banquet.

Former University of Georgia women’s basketball coach Andy Landers was the guest speaker, as BCAT also honored their All-Star teams from each TSSAA classification.

For McWilliams, it’s a moment that makes her reminisce on all of the people that have helped make this possible.

“It’s a great honor, it makes me look back at all the great players I’ve had the chance to coach,” McWilliams said. “All the coaches that I’ve had along the way that have mentored me, it’s all just really special.”

Anyone who knows McWilliams knows that this isn’t something she’s thought about at any point in her coaching career, but it’s more than deserved.

“I was 23 when I got the head coaching job so I don’t know what I was thinking about,” McWilliams said. “It’s a great honor, there’s so many great coaches in Tennessee on the girls side and the boys side. It’s just a great place to be able to coach and I’m really thankful.

And when you look at the night as a whole, McWilliams believes this is something that should be done every year. She’s always been a leading voice in doing what coaches do for the kids above everything else, and a banquet like this puts the spotlight on them.

“I thought this was really great, it’s the first time they’ve had a banquet for the kids,” McWilliams said. “For them to get to meet someone like Andy Landers, to see these kids get recognized one last time before they all go their own ways, it’s a really special night. I hope they keep doing it.”

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