Monday,
April 2, 2007
McKee
Departing PC Tennis After 26 Years At Institution
CLINTON, S.C. – Current Presbyterian College women’s tennis coach Bobby McKee recently announced his resignation from PC to accept the position of Director of Tennis/Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne College.
“I am very disappointed to have to accept Coach McKee’s resignation,” said PC Director of Athletics Dr. William “Bee” Carlton. “Coach McKee is the most experienced coach and one of the most successful coaches on our staff.
“On the other hand, I am happy that he is able to pursue an opportunity that he believes is best for him and his family. Coach McKee has always given his best to PC and our men’s and women’s tennis programs and has produced outstanding results for the college throughout his career. I am fully confident that he will be able to produce similar results for Lenoir-Rhyne.”
McKee is currently in his eighth season at the helm of the Lady Blue Hose women’s tennis program and in his 26th year of coaching at the school, leaving the Clinton area as a community standard.
“We are not only losing a great coach, but we are also losing a wonderful family from the Clinton community,” noted Carlton. “As a counselor, Mrs. Janet McKee has also provided outstanding support to our campus, community and student-athletes. We will also miss Janet and the expertise and care she provided. We wish Bobby and Janet and their children God-speed in their new adventure. We will miss them all terribly.”
McKee’s decision to leave the program is not without mixed emotions for the 1980 Presbyterian College graduate.
“The 26 years that I have spent coaching at PC have been full of memorable experiences, close relationships and the ultimate highs and lows of collegiate coaching,” mused McKee. “It has been a pleasure to work with the student-athletes who chose to pursue their academic and athletic careers at PC, and also with the professors who have provided the greatest education to these individuals during their undergraduate years to position them to excel and make positive contributions to our society.”
Entering the 2007 season, McKee owned a 13 year record coaching women’s tennis of 206-73, good for a .738 winning percentage.
The Lady Blue Hose are currently 9-5 on the season and ranked 27th in the nation in NCAA Division II.
In 2005, McKee led the Lady Blue Hose to a 19-4 overall record, won the SAC regular season title for the 2nd consecutive year, won the SAC tournament title for the 2nd consecutive year, and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championships for the 12th straight year. The team also finished 21st in the 2006 ITA/NCAA II final national rankings.
The 12 straight NCAA postseason appearances is the longest among any school and any sport in the SAC since the league moved to NCAA Division II in 1993.
For his efforts, McKee was named the SAC Coach of The Year for a record ninth time in his career.
McKee coached the men’s program at PC from 1984-2000 and owns a 16-year record of 233-129, good for a winning percentage of .644. During McKee’s tenure, the Blue Hose men’s tennis program posted winning seasons in 13 of 16 seasons, including 12 campaigns with 15 or more victories and 11 seasons of earning a national ranking. During his tenure as head men’s coach, McKee was named SAC Men’s Coach of The Year four times (1996, ’97, ’98, ’99).
McKee was no stranger to the women’s program prior to taking the helm once again eight years ago, having spent five seasons as the head coach from 1981-85. Under his direction, the women’s team compiled a mark of 83-37 (.692).
A former All American on the tennis courts at Presbyterian College who graduated in 1980, McKee reached the pinnacle of his coaching career in 1987 when he was named the NAIA National Men’s Tennis Coach of The Year. Just five seasons later, McKee was honored in similar fashion when he was named the ITA/Wilson National Men’s Tennis Coach of The Year in 1992. He would later earn ITA/Wilson NCAA Division II East Region Men’s Tennis Coach of The Year honors.
Presbyterian College will conduct a nationwide search to find McKee’s replacement.
“Due to Coach McKee’s outstanding service and record of success at PC, I know that this position will attract many highly qualified and capable people,” said Carlton.