Roonie Scovel has won four national championships at Florida Gulf Coast State.
Gator Roonie Scovel Named NJCAA National Coach of Year
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Scovel played basketball with the Gators for four years from 1980-84.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fresh off winning her fourth national championship at Gulf Coast State (Fla.), Florida Gator letterwinner Mary "Roonie" Scovel garnered more accolades Wednesday when she was announced as the 2015-16 Spalding® NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year by the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Committee.
Compiling a 32-1 record on the season, the Commodores seized the No. 1 ranking in the first poll of February and refused to relinquish it throughout the remainder of the season. The only blemish on Gulf Coast State's schedule was a 78-64 loss at defending national champion Chipola (Fla.) in their third meeting of the season. Following the defeat, the Commodores ripped off 10 consecutive victories en route to the national title. Scovel's 2015-16 campaign was completed with a 63-47 victory over Trinity Valley (Texas) in the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship Game.
Having just completed her 18th season at Gulf Coast State (Fla.), Scovel touts a record of 527-86 during her NJCAA coaching career. The Greenville, South Carolina, native has directed the Commodores to all four of their national championships – having already claimed NJCAA titles in 2003, 2008 and 2010.
Stepping down from her post at Gulf Coast State following the 2011-12 season, Scovel spent one year as a student advisor at the college and coached a season of middle school basketball in Defuniak Springs, Florida. She returned to the Commodores as head coach in 2014 to care for her mother who began suffering from health issues. After her mother's passing in 2015, her memory served as inspiration for Scovel during the Commodores' championship run.
Scovel arrived at Gulf Coast State in 1996 after a successful career at Laurel Hill High School that included a Florida state championship in 1995. Prior to her first head coaching position, Scovel served as a graduate assistant under Joe Ciampi at Auburn.
Earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1984, Scovel played basketball with the Gators for four years from 1980-84. She'd later earn her master's degree from the University of West Florida before moving to Auburn to begin her coaching career.
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Compiling a 32-1 record on the season, the Commodores seized the No. 1 ranking in the first poll of February and refused to relinquish it throughout the remainder of the season. The only blemish on Gulf Coast State's schedule was a 78-64 loss at defending national champion Chipola (Fla.) in their third meeting of the season. Following the defeat, the Commodores ripped off 10 consecutive victories en route to the national title. Scovel's 2015-16 campaign was completed with a 63-47 victory over Trinity Valley (Texas) in the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship Game.
Having just completed her 18th season at Gulf Coast State (Fla.), Scovel touts a record of 527-86 during her NJCAA coaching career. The Greenville, South Carolina, native has directed the Commodores to all four of their national championships – having already claimed NJCAA titles in 2003, 2008 and 2010.
Stepping down from her post at Gulf Coast State following the 2011-12 season, Scovel spent one year as a student advisor at the college and coached a season of middle school basketball in Defuniak Springs, Florida. She returned to the Commodores as head coach in 2014 to care for her mother who began suffering from health issues. After her mother's passing in 2015, her memory served as inspiration for Scovel during the Commodores' championship run.
Scovel arrived at Gulf Coast State in 1996 after a successful career at Laurel Hill High School that included a Florida state championship in 1995. Prior to her first head coaching position, Scovel served as a graduate assistant under Joe Ciampi at Auburn.
Earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1984, Scovel played basketball with the Gators for four years from 1980-84. She'd later earn her master's degree from the University of West Florida before moving to Auburn to begin her coaching career.
FOLLOW THE GATORS:
floridagators.com
Coach Amanda Butler on Twitter
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