Gainey Coach Award
In 2006/07, through a private donation from Pat Gainey’s daughter, Berry Jo Shoen, the Gainey Coach Award was established to recognize “Excellence in Character, Achievement and Coaching” annually for one coach.

The Pat Gainey Coach Award recognizes excellence in character, achievement and coaching. It is designed to go to a varsity coach at an NCHSAA school who provides great leadership, who shows interest in his or her athletes on and off the field or court, is recognized as scrupulously honest, and has strongly supported an anti-drug and alcohol policy.

This award is presented at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting held each may in Chapel Hill. The recipient receives a $2,000 cash award and a commemorative plaque.

About Pat Gainey:  A native of Dunn, Gainey recorded a phenomenal record in women’s basketball at a couple of different stops during his coaching career and was a real supporter of women’s athletics.  His overall record at Pamlico was an incredible 93-6 in women’s basketball and he also fielded outstanding baseball teams there. He then moved to Taylorsville, where he coached from 1955-64. His women’s basketball teams won five Western North Carolina High School Activities Association titles and at one point recorded 54 consecutive wins and 140 straight conference victories. His overall women’s basketball mark was 358-57.

2007:    Coach Cathy Miller, Alexander Central High School
2008:    Coach Vertha Dixon-Wright, New Hanover High School