Heather Macy, head coach of the women’s basketball team, became the all-time winningest coach in ECU women’s basketball history on January 10, 2018, with a 73-67 victory over Southern Methodist University, Macy’s 127th win at ECU. Macy also made ECU history in becoming the first women’s basketball coach to achieve three consecutive 20-win seasons in program play with consecutive 22-win campaigns from 2012-2015, followed by three consecutive Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearances. In 2012-2013, Macy was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. That same year, Macy led the women’s basketball team to a 14-1 home record at Minges Coliseum. The latter run was part of a program best 26-game winning streak at Minges that began during the 2012-2013 season.
Macy's squad has also excelled in the classroom. Of the 17 student-athletes on the roster during the 2012-13 campaign, 13 were named to the Conference USA Honor Roll. Since ECU’s move to the American Athletic Conference, Macy’s teams have faced new challenges, but have done so with a focus and passion that reflects the distinctive mentality of their outstanding coach.
In 2017, Macy became certified as an Emotional Intelligence Coach, trained to help athletes use their emotions to maximize their performance. A widely-sought motivational speaker, Macy has addressed the USA Basketball Academy and NIKE Coaching Clinics across the country. In 2013, she attended the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Center for Coaching Excellence elite leadership program hosted by Columbia University in New York City. She has also served as chair of the American Athletic Conference’s Women’s Basketball Coaches Committee. Macy directs the annual Heather Macy Basketball Camp, and is host of “Heather Macy All-Access,” a weekly radio show broadcast on WZMB 91.3 FM.
Before coming to ECU in 2010, Macy, a native of Hamptonville, N.C., received a bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise studies from Greensboro College in 2000, where she was a four-year letter winner for the women's basketball team. In 2002, she earned a master's degree in human performance and recreation from the University of Southern Mississippi. Macy’s first job as head coach was at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C., in 2006-2007. That year, she was named Carolina-Virginia Athletics Conference Coach-of-the Year. Earlier she had served as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, High Point University, Lenoir-Rhyne College, and Catawba College. After two seasons at Pfeiffer, Macy was named head coach at Francis Marion University. During each of her three years at Francis Marion, Macy was named Peach Belt Coach-of-the-Year. She also gained experience as head coach for a USA Athletes International squad that toured Australia in 2004 and won a gold medal with a 7-0 mark at the Australian Youth Games. Her tenure at ECU as women’s basketball head coach has brought the women’s program a degree of respect and recognition that easily rivals the traditionally more publicized men’s team.
Sources
- “About Coach Heather Macy.” Heather Macy. http://heathermacyallaccess.com/general-info/.
- Blanquicet, Rev. “ECU women’s basketball coach Heather Macy debuts new radio show.” The East Carolinian. January 15, 2015. http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/sports/article_0b8f0f6e-9c60-11e4-943f-f760a955eb53.html.
- Gavin, Tyler. “ECU Head Coach Heather Macy to be inducted into high school Hall of Fame. The East Carolinian. January 16, 2017. http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/sports/article_0dbc8aa4-dc3d-11e6-a53e-9b75550b65d4.html.
- “Heather Macy.” ECUPirates.com. https://ecupirates.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1986&path=wbball.
- Johnson, Dylan. “Past athletes reflect on Macy’s historic achievement.” The East Carolinian. January 22, 2018. http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/sports/article_a98fa136-ffe2-11e7-9d7d-8fc8aebc144d.html.
- Romero, Robert and Dylan Johnson. “Macy sets program record in thrilling win.” The East Carolinian. January 10, 2018. http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/sports/article_4d0233bc-f681-11e7-a866-2f18e205c063.html.
- Staff Report. “Heather Macy radio show to return on WZMB 91.3 FM.” The East Carolinian. January 17, 2018. http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/sports/article_2a869a1a-fbe2-11e7-858f-d3f83d7c52ef.html.
Citation Information
Title: Heather Mitchell Macy
Author: John A. Tucker, PhD
Date of Publication: 6/25/2019