SPORTS

Game changer

Atha leaving Starr’s Mill after two years of coaching

Crista Alarcon, Editor • March 21, 2024

Anna Atha coaches the defense during the state playoff quarterfinals game against North Oconee. She led the team to a 41-19 record overall and a region record of 22-6. This season the team made it to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.

Varsity girls basketball head coach Anna Atha is leaving Starr’s Mill after two years of leading the program.

“I never thought I’d love anything more than I loved playing, but I think that I love coaching more,” Atha said.

Her fiancé got a job in Hall County, and Atha will continue coaching at North Hall High School.

In two seasons, Atha coached the Lady Panthers to a 41-18 record overall, 22-6 in region play. Both years, Starr’s Mill earned a spot in the state playoffs and won games.

This year, Atha and the Lady Panthers achieved two new milestones for Starr’s Mill girls basketball as they advanced to the state quarterfinals and hosted the quarterfinal game. The team also defeated Fayette County to win the region championship after losing to the Lady Tigers both times in the regular season.

“It’s not what I’ve accomplished,” Atha said. “It’s what the girls have accomplished, and I’ve just been fortunate enough to be their leader during that.”

Most valuable lesson

“Doing the little things right and how that can impact the game and practice, and just how it affects the team.”

Senior Sunny McQuade
Most valuable lesson

“The most valuable thing I’ve learned is that work is always gonna pay off. When she came to our program, we were not what we could be and she completely turned us around because of how many hours and how much work we put into it.”

Senior Brooke Herdman
Favorite memory

“My favorite memory of coach Atha is her running the Boston with Coach Klein after we beat Fayette County and Trinity.”

Senior Tani Alofe
Most valuable lesson

“The most valuable thing I learned from Coach Atha is that you have to work hard to get anywhere…When you do nothing, that gets you nowhere.”

Junior Mariyah Grant
Most valuable lesson

“Control the controllables. You know you’re gonna be thrown things in life that you can’t do anything about, but just stay composed and build from it.”

Sophomore AG Morrison
Most valuable lesson

“Keeping yourself accountable.”

Freshman Lindsey Kopacek
Most valuable lesson

“The most valuable thing I learned from Coach Atha is how important it is to be a team and to stay together throughout everything, win or lose.”

Senior Diana Baidoo

Atha credits her dad as her biggest mentor in coaching as well as some of the female coaches she had in college. Her father has been a teacher for over 30 years and a coach as well.

With a background in playing high school and college basketball, Atha provided an extra level of relatability for the girls. Her coaching mindset is defense-heavy. She translated that onto the court by making the girls more defensive minded. She also taught the girls to play at a faster pace.

“I think the biggest thing is that the girls just really started believing in themselves,” Atha said. “That belief is going to take them far the next few years.”

The Prowler at Starr’s Mill High School · Class of 2023 Hillary Baidoo

Atha has changed the culture of Starr’s Mill basketball by pushing the program to a new level and sparking more interest, including the addition of a freshmen girls team.

“I hope that the community and the girls and even the young kids just know that this is a basketball school,” Atha said.

Starr’s Mill is currently seeking applicants for the girls basketball head coaching position. To apply online, scan the QR code or email athletic director Shane Ratliff.