RADFORD, Va. – Keith McCray and
Fran Recchia joined the Radford University women’s basketball staff as assistant coaches announced third-year head coach
Tajama Abraham Ngongba on Monday.
McCray, a former assistant at Hampton University, will oversee post development, community service initiatives and scheduling. Recchia, a former Virginia Tech standout and William Byrd head coach, will assist with guard development, camps and team academics. Both McCray and Recchia will begin their duties immediately.
McCray, who recently coached the Boo Williams Norfolk Xpress 14U AAU Team, brings 15 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, AAU and high school levels.
“Keith brings a tremendous work ethic and energy to the program,” said Ngongba. “His knowledge of the game and passion for teaching will be a great asset. I’m excited to have another member of the Boo Williams family on staff.”
In his most recent post with Norfolk, McCray guided the Xpress to a BWSL Mega Tournament championship as well as the 14U Super Regional and Virginia State titles.
Prior to the Xpress, McCray spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Hampton University. McCray was involved in all aspects of the program and played a key role in the Pirates advancement to the 2009 MEAC Championship game. In his three seasons, he also helped develop three league all-freshman selections as well as a pair of all-conference honorees.
McCray, who spent from 1983 to 2005 as a United States Naval Reservist, earned his coaching stripes in the Chesapeake, Va. public school system. He spent most of his time at Oscar Smith High School as an assistant under Patty Walsh. During his tenure, the Tigers claimed a total of seven Southeastern District regular season and tournament titles.
A 2005 graduate of Belford University, McCray has served as the assistant director of Hoops Basketball Academy (Chesapeake, Va.) and the Oscar Smith Boys and Girls Basketball camps.
Recchia, who has been the head coach at William Byrd High School in Roanoke the past three seasons, has been a familiar face in the New River Valley since coming to Virginia Tech to play collegiate basketball in 2001.
“I’m thrilled to bring Fran into the Radford family,” stated Ngongba. “She brings a tremendous boost to the local recruiting scene. As a local standout player, she understands the commitment it takes to develop an athlete and motivate them to play at a high level.”
Recchia was named head coach of the girl’s varsity basketball team at William Byrd in 2007. During her three seasons with the Lady Terriers, she participated in the Region III and Division IV postseason tournaments and her 2010 squad was recognized as the Civitan Sportsmanship Award recipient.
Along with her head coaching stint, Recchia, in 2009, became the Vice President and assumed the duties as head coach (15U) for the BYBA/Team Virginia. During her time as Vice President, the 16U squad won the 2009 USJN and Fila National Championships. As a coach, she guided her 15U team to a 2009 state championship.
A 2004 graduate with a degree in physical education, Recchia, a guard, spent three seasons as a player under current Kansas head coach Bonnie Hendrickson.
During her time on the court, Recchia was named to the FIU all-tournament team and was also honored for her work in the classroom earning BIG EAST and ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition in her final three seasons.
Following her stint on the hardwood, she began her coaching career as a student (2004-05) then graduate assistant (2005-06) under current Hokies head coach Beth Dunkenberger, earning a Master of Science in Education in 2006. Recchia focused on the development of guards, while assuming several other duties, including film exchange and on-campus recruiting.
Outside of coaching, Recchia was a health and physical education teacher at William Byrd and worked as a summer camp counselor at both Virginia Tech and Kansas.