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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --December 16, 1998
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

Flint Powers Catholic Athletic Director and Girls Basketball Coach Kathy McGee receives the MHSAA's Women In Sports Leadership Award at the 11th Annual WISL Conference in Lansing. Presenting the award is MHSAA Representative Council President Bob Grimes, superintendent of Battle Creek Pennfield schools.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Dec. 16 - One of the most successful high school girls basketball coaches in Michigan, Kathy McGee of Flint Powers Catholic High School, has been named the recipient of the 1999 Women in Sports Leadership Award by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Each year the Representative Council considers the achievements of the women coaches, officials and athletic administrators affiliated with the MHSAA who show exemplary leadership capabilities and positive contributions to athletics.

McGee belongs to an outstanding group of high school girls basketball coaches who have more than 400 career victories. In 23 seasons at Powers, her record of 420-124 is among the top 10 winningest coaches in Michigan. Four of her teams have reached MHSAA title games, with the 1991 and 1996 squads winning the Class B championship. In addition, McGee has also served Powers as a teacher for 20 years, and is in her seventh year as athletic director at the school. While at Powers, she has also coached softball, and served as a forensics/debate coach and yearbook moderator.

Active in basketball and athletic administration circles, McGee was the first female appointed to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's Board of Directors in 1990, and she was president of that organization in 1992. She served as an assistant coach for a USA Basketball 17 and under age group team which played in the World Youth Games in Moscow during the past year. She is also a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

A 1969 graduate of Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port High School (now Laker High in Pigeon), McGee has earned two college degrees from Central Michigan University -- the first being a Bachelor's in Secondary Education in 1973; the second a Master's in Secondary Education and School Administration in 1986.

McGee was nominated for the award by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

"A woman of leadership, not just sports leadership, is how you would define Kathy McGee," said MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts. "Kathy McGee has instilled excellence as a teacher, activities coordinator and community leader -- not just as a coach -- in her school and her town. Her accomplishments have touched all students and all sports, making her an excellent role model. She is a worthy recipient of the Women In Sports Leadership Award."

McGee is the tenth recipient of the Women In Sports Leadership award. Past recipients are:
1990 -- Diane Laffey, Harper Woods
1991 -- Carol Seavoy, L'Anse
1992 -- Patricia Ashby, Scotts
1993 -- Jo Lake, Grosse Pointe
1994 -- Brenda Gatlin, Detroit
1995 -- Jane Bennett, Ann Arbor
1996 -- Cheryl Amos-Helmicki, Huntington Woods
1997 -- Delores L. Elswick, Detroit
1998 -- Karen S. Leinaar, Delton