GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Tammye Jenkins-Ware upholds legacy at Terrell County

DAWSON — Tradition. Pride. Success. Three things that are ingrained in the Terrell County girl’s basketball program.

Tammye Jenkins-Ware spent four years living out those words as a student-athlete, winning two state championships during her time as a player.

At the time, Jenkins-Ware had no idea she would one day use those words to motivate players from the sidelines as a coach at her alma mater. She has since gotten used to the role she was unknowingly groomed for and has continued Terrell County’s tradition of competing with the best.

Terrell County reclaimed the Region 1-1A title this season and reached the semifinals of the Class 1A-Public tournament. That effort lands Jenkins-Ware Albany Herald Girls Basketball Coach of the Year honors.

Jenkins-Ware had the fortune of an extensive playing career that took her from the high school ranks to the University of Georgia to overseas, playing around the world.

As fate would have it, an opportunity to transition into the coaching ranks came right at the end of her playing career.

“I was forced to stop playing because I started having knee problems, but I still enjoyed the game and still enjoyed being involved,” she said. “It just so happened the year I was kind of forced to stop, the position at my high school became available and my brother, who played, as well, he suggested applying.

“He said, ‘You still enjoy the game, just consider coaching.’ ”

Jenkins-Ware said as she soaked up the mentorship of her coaches and continued to thrive as a player, she was actually being groomed for the job she has now held for 18 years.

“For me, I know I was fortunate and blessed because I learned so much from high school, coach Willie Green, and then my father coached me my senior year and then I had an excellent college coach,” Jenkins-Ware said. “Then the coaches I had overseas, I learned a lot, even as a player, just by having that opportunity to be around some really great coaches. So that transition was not as difficult as I may have thought it was going to be.”

She had help along the way from a former rival coach in Randolph-Clay’s James Bland and has since turned their guidance into a number of region championships and one state title, coming 2005.

This season, she had the privilege of coaching four seniors whom she watched grow and develop as players since middle school. Jenkins-Ware said their maturity as players and as young women was key to the team’s success as they tried to bounce back from a tough playoff loss the previous season in which the Greenwave battled without two of their starters.

Despite losing a talented class to graduation, Jenkins-Ware said the expectations remain the same for the next crop of players. They’ve had a taste of victory and have a bit of experience under their belts, and she’s hopeful they will be able to replicate the success they’ve had in years past.

Jenkins-Ware said her pride in upholding Terrell County traditions remains the same.

“I try to tell the girls it’s a tradition,” she said. “I don’t really like to brag, but I won two championships as a player and was the state runner-up my senior year, and just to be able to help the tradition and the legacy of the girls basketball program, it’s an honor. To be a part of that, it’s an honor.”