by Adam Carrington acarrington@mdjonline.com The Marietta Daily Journal

Hillgrove coach Sheryl Fowler looks at the scoreboard as she inserts her final substitutions in Fridays game. Staff photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan

After leading Hillgrove to a 26-5 record and an appearance in the Class AAAAA state championship game, Fowler is calling it a career after 30 seasons on the bench.

The Cobb County native spent her first seven years at the original Campbell High School, then 16 years at McEachern before wrapping up the final six years of her career with the Lady Hawks.

Fowler never won a state championship, but after two appearances in the state finals, four trips to the semifinals and racking up 568 victories, theres nothing for her to be ashamed of.

The veteran mentor coached her final game Friday against her former McEachern team in the Class AAAAA state championship. After making a third-quarter surge to get within striking range, the Lady Hawks fell 69-36 to the undefeated Lady Indians (33-0), a team that may have made a strong case at finishing as the nations top-ranked team.

She has always distinguished herself as a great coach, and we hated to see her go, McEachern athletic director Jimmy Dorsey said. What she and (current McEachern coach) Phyllis (Arthur) have been able to do with girls basketball (at McEachern) is a testament to both of them. Since shes retiring, Im happy she got a chance to end her career in a state championship game.

Fowler is known for building teams and dedicates many hours working with varsity players and youngsters. Shes a fundamental coach who emphasizes the basics of dribbling, shooting, rebounding and passing.

Fowler applied the simple basics when she was hired to rebuild the McEachern program in 1990. She turned the Lady Indians into a regular 20-win team and ended her stay at McEachern with nine straight postseason appearances.

When I first took the McEachern job (in 2006), I heard they had gone to state nine years in a row. That made me nervous and wanted to go to state, Arthur said. I remember telling the girls that were not going to be the ones that mess it up.

Originally posted here:
Fowler’s coaching run comes to an end