Weatherford College and Women’s Head Basketball Coach McKinley Announce Coach’s Resignation and Retirement
In recognition of Coach McKinley’s contributions to Weatherford College and the broader basketball community, the College will host a special celebration day in his honor at the first home game of the 2026-2027 women’s basketball season.
Weatherford College and Women's Head Basketball Coach Thomas McKinley jointly announce that Coach McKinley has submitted his resignation and will retire from his position as Women's Head Basketball Coach, effective August 31, 2026. Coach McKinley will continue to serve as Athletic Director Emeritus of Weatherford College.
Coach McKinley has served Weatherford College with dedication for nearly 50 years. McKinley coached the Men's Basketball team for 18 years, and the Women's Basketball team for the last 30 years. Coach McKinley compiled 16 conference titles, 5 regional championships, 5 national tournament appearances, and 1 NJCAA Final Four appearance. He also served as the College's Athletic Director for 41 years. The legacy he leaves is defined by his impact on the Men's and Women's Basketball team, the athletic department, and the entire Weatherford College community.
During his tenure, Coach McKinley has coached 21 NJCAA All-Americans, the most recent being Neso Aniisiobi, who was named 2nd Team All-American this year. He has always taken great pride in his players' success. This year alone, the Lady Coyotes had 7 former players playing at the NCAA D1 level, placing a remarkable 41% of their players at D1 schools over the past 2 seasons, which is notable and exemplifies Coach McKinley's willingness to help his student athletes reach the next level of play.
"One of my biggest joys is seeing my players reach their goals and live their best lives," said Coach McKinley. "Everything we do as coaches should center around their success."
"After 48 incredible years, I am resigning and retiring from my position as Women's Head Basketball Coach at Weatherford College," said Coach McKinley. "I am profoundly grateful to every player, assistant coach, administrator, and fan who made this journey possible. It has been the honor of a lifetime to coach and serve Weatherford College."
Weatherford College President Dr. Tod Allen Farmer also expressed his gratitude for Coach McKinley's service. "Coach McKinley's commitment to the Weatherford College Men's and Women's Basketball programs and his role in developing student athletes, both as a coach and while serving as Athletic Director, are deeply valued. We celebrate his decades-long career and wish him all the best."
In recognition of Coach McKinley's contributions to Weatherford College and the broader basketball community, the College will host a special celebration day in his honor at the first home game of the 2026-2027 women's basketball season. The event will bring together former players, colleagues, college leadership, and members of the community to pay tribute to his legacy. Additional details regarding the celebration, including scheduling and public participation opportunities, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Weatherford College will conduct a comprehensive national search for a new Women's Head Basketball Coach. Further information regarding the search process will be shared at the appropriate time.