Dougherty set to name Khadijah Ali as new girls hoops coach

ALBANY — The Albany Herald has learned that Dougherty High School will recommend former Albany State University assistant women’s basketball coach Khadijah Ali to become its new girls basketball coach.

Principal Robert McIntosh said he was filing the necessary paperwork on Wednesday to Dougherty County Schools Superintendent Butch Mosely, who will present Ali for approval at the next School Board meeting.

McIntosh said Ali, who currently coaches physical education at Turner Elementary, was a unanimous decision from the hiring committee. She will transition to Dougherty after the school term ends.

“I met her a couple of times, she’s very positive and brings a lot of positive energy,” McIntosh said. “I believe she’ll be a great role model for our students.”

Ali replaces longtime coach Charlene Jackson, who was fired in March.

Ali, 35, brings an impressive resume to Dougherty. She played collegiate basketball at Alcorn State for two seasons before transferring to Albany State. She played under current Albany State women’s coach Robert Skinner before tearing her ACL three games into her senior season.

“That’s when I fell in love with coaching,” Ali said. “I had no choice then but to coach from the bench.”

She was Skinner’s assistant for 10 seasons from 2002-12. She also coached tennis from 2008-12 where she guided the program to its first SIAC title in 2010. She has been working at Turner Elementary since January 2013.

“Coach Skinner, he’s such a great coach and he taught me a lot,” Ali said. “He definitely prepared me. I’m up for the challenge. I’m excited.”

McIntosh said what impressed him and the hiring committee is that Ali likes to demonstrate and teach players on the court. He also added her desire to help her students excel in the classroom.

“She wants well-rounded athletes on the court and for her players to be leaders in school and to do what they need to in the classroom to be successful,” McIntosh said.