The sound of bouncing basketballs echoes through the gym once again, but this year, there’s something new in the air. A fresh energy, a spark of excitement, and a new leader ready to guide the Lady Bears into a new chapter. That leader is coach Ashlee Peevey, a lifelong student of the game whose love for basketball runs deeper than the hardwood floor she now proudly calls home.
For Peevey, basketball has always been more than just a sport; it’s been a lifelong love.
“I started playing basketball when I was a little girl in Little Dribblers and played all the way through high school,” Peevey said. “Our high school team was very competitive, and I was lucky to be a part of some awesome teams.”
That early start on the court shaped not only her athletic journey but her purpose in life.
“I was truly blessed with some of the very best coaches for my entire playing career,” Peevey said. “Between Little Dribblers coaches like Marty Elkins and Eric Smith who helped us fall in love with the game, a wonderful junior high coach who truly taught us how to properly prepare, and a high school coach who taught us that there was more than one style of play. Then there is my all-time favorite coach, Linda Riddick. Coach Riddick held me accountable and coached me hard yet balanced it with a true compassion for me and a thoughtfulness for how I was doing personally. I could talk all day long about the influence she’s had on me, even into adulthood. She is every bit of the reason I am a coach and how I strive to be as one.”
That balance of toughness and care now defines her own coaching philosophy. Backed by a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s in education from Lamar University, Peevey has worked hard to become both a teacher of the game and a mentor off the court.
“My degree in kinesiology helped me to see the importance of being a ‘teacher’ of the game and to adapt my coaching to really reach all types of athletes,” Peevey said. “My master’s helped me to feel more confident in managing a team and working with other adults involved in our success.”
According to Peevey, before stepping into her new role here, she had previous job experience. With each experience, it has taught her something new about leadership, patience, and progress.
“I once had a junior high team who lost to Hardin-Jefferson by a score of 54–1 in seventh grade and then came back the next year and only lost by three,” Peevey said. “The growth from one year to the other and the attention to getting better that they gave in that time was so fun!”
For Peevey, it is not just about winning or losing; it is about heart.
“I LOVE watching a kid take a charge!” Peevey said. “I love watching kids hustle and play really gritty defense. When a team works together and gets a five or ten second call, it is one of my favorite things ever. I also really enjoy trying to pick up on the things that others might not notice — the things that don’t turn up on a stat sheet but that positively affect a game.”
That same passion carries over to how she mentors her players beyond basketball.
“I really believe in using sports to prepare our young people for what lies ahead in life,” Peevey said. “Sometimes this means modeling how to give others grace, and sometimes it means holding others accountable even if it is uncomfortable. I want them to see me acknowledging everyone’s part in our story so they can learn to be gracious in the success they will undoubtedly have in their future.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, she has both competitive and character-driven goals for her team.
“Our goals on the court include competing for a district championship and pushing for a deep run in the playoffs,” Peevey said. “Off the court, my goals for our team are to learn how to endure the grind of chasing a goal, to show and develop good character through that grind, and lastly to find joy in this season.”
