Tammy George, the winningest coach in USC Upstate women’s basketball history and a veteran of more than two decades on the sidelines, has been named Polk County’s new head boys basketball coach.
George will step into the role vacated by Josh Money, who stepped down after one season to focus on expanded duties with Polk County’s baseball program.
A coach with 20 years of collegiate experience, George spent the past four seasons as the head varsity girls basketball coach at East Henderson, her alma mater. While this will be her first opportunity to lead a boys basketball program, the transition is one she has long envisioned.
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“I grew up playing basketball with guys my whole life,” George said. “I tagged along with my brother, Bruce, and learned the game. I have always had an itch to coach guys. I’m extremely competitive.
“I want to continue to break down the stereotypes for women. My biggest role model was my mom. I think it’s important for little girls and boys to see females in these roles.”
A standout player at East Henderson, George helped lead the Eagles to the 1988 3A state championship game before continuing her playing career at UNC Charlotte. Her career 3-point shooting percentage of .393 is second-best in 49ers history and her name is scattered throughout the UNCC record book.
After graduating, George began her coaching career with East Henderson’s junior varsity girls program before embarking on a 20-year run at the collegiate level. She served as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville before being hired as the head coach at Brevard College.
George quickly transformed the Tornados into one of the nation’s top NAIA programs, leading Brevard to a top-20 ranking and an appearance in the 2005 NAIA Division II Tournament.
That success led to an opportunity at USC Upstate, where George spent 15 seasons as head coach. During her tenure, she won 193 games, guided the program through its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, recorded two 20-win seasons and led the Spartans to four postseason appearances. George also oversaw a program that achieved a 100 percent graduation rate during her tenure.
She now takes over a Polk County program looking to regain its footing. The Wolverines have posted just one winning season in the past 14 years, a 6-5 mark during the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign.
“I just recently went through the same thing at East with its girls basketball program,” George said. “The biggest thing is building relationships with your team, making it like a family, competing, doing the intangibles and building off that daily.
“Being better than we were yesterday. Little things become big things. Celebrate the small victories along the way.”
Polk County posted a 3-22 record last season in its return to the Western Highlands Conference. The Wolverines graduated their top three scorers in Aaron Jackson, Khristian Littlejohn and Khalil Austin.
“I am thankful for the opportunity from Superintendent Todd Murphy, (recently retired principal) Michelle Bean and Athletic Director Michelle Fagan to get this program back to being highly competitive,” George said.
