Born: 1937 (Granbury, Texas)
Biography:
Leta Mae Rains Andrews, born on July 7, 1937, is a retired American high school basketball coach who holds the record for the most wins by a high school basketball coach. Born near Granbury, Texas, Leta grew up with her brothers Walter and George, and her sister Shirley, who also played and later coached girls basketball. In fact, Clyde Rains, Leta’s father, held Shirley back for one year in school so that she and Leta could play basketball together for four years in high school. Together, the Rains sisters led Granbury High School to the state championship game in 1954 and 1955, though they unfortunately lost both years to Dimmitt.
Leta Andrews began her coaching career in 1962 and went on to coach high school basketball for an incredible fifty-two years at five different high schools in Texas until her retirement in 2014. Throughout her illustrious career, she led her teams to an impressive sixteen state Final Four appearances and a state championship in 1990. Her coaching prowess was widely recognized, as she was chosen to be the head coach of the McDonald’s All-American Game West team in 2004, as well as the Gatorade All-America team in 2009.
In 2007, Leta Andrews received the prestigious NHSCA National High School Coach of the Year award, along with the esteemed Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award. She was inducted into the High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Furthermore, Andrews was a three-time finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the years 2015, 2016, and 2019, solidifying her status as one of the most influential figures in women’s basketball.
On December 9, 2005, Andrews achieved a significant milestone in her career when she secured her 1,218th win, making her the nation’s winningest high school girls’ coach, surpassing Jim Smiddy of Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee. Then, on December 7, 2010, she became the winningest high school basketball coach, surpassing retired Dunbar High School coach Robert Hughes, Sr., with 1,334 wins. Leta Andrews’ impact on the sport cannot be understated, as she broke numerous records and paved the way for future generations of basketball coaches.
Beyond her coaching accolades, Leta Andrews led a fulfilling personal life. She was married to her husband, David Andrews, for an impressive 62 years until his passing on March 28, 2018. Together, they raised three daughters who all became Texas All-State high school basketball players. Even more impressively, all three daughters went on to play college basketball for Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt at the University of Texas.
Leta Andrews’ influence extends beyond the court, as evidenced by the documentary film It’s All in the Game: The Leta Andrews Story. Narrated by NBA Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton, the film delves into Andrews’ upbringing on the family farm outside of Granbury, showcasing the determination and passion that drove her to become the legendary coach she is known as today.
Awards:
– NHSCA National High School Coach of the Year (2007)
– Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
– Inducted into the High School Basketball Hall of Fame (1995)
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2010)
– Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2012)
– Three-time finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2015, 2016, 2019)