Friends and colleagues of Randy McCoy are still in shock after learning of the 69-year-old’s death on Tuesday in Florida.
McCoy coached the University Heights Academy basketball team from 2007-2012 and went 101-54. He led the Blazers to the 2008 All “A” Classic State Tournament championship and also coached the Blazers to the Region 2 title in 2008.
An Eastern Kentucky native from the Elkhorn City area, McCoy quickly became loved around UHA, according to Blazers’ Athletics Director Taylor Sparks, who served as McCoy’s assistant coach for several seasons.
McCoy made his presence felt immediately around UHA and District 8. Among other things, he is responsible for the district basketball tournaments being played in locations other than Hopkinsville and Christian County high schools.
He also developed the “U” logo for Blazer athletics, according to Sparks.
UHA Upper School Principal Marvin Denison described McCoy “down to earth” and “passionate” especially about his basketball teams.
However, Denison said McCoy loved to stir the pot and made life interesting around UHA.
In addition to coaching at UHA, McCoy coached Pikeville College to a NAIA Final Four in 2001. He also coached Elkhorn City to a Region 15 championship and a Region 15 All “A” championship in 2017.
He had retired from coaching in Kentucky but recently returned to the sidelines as the Island Coast, Fla., High School basketball coach. Despite being ill this past season, he led the team to a district championship, according to Sparks.
Funeral arrangements for McCoy were incomplete as of this afternoon.