Myra Black King was a leading force in female athletics in North Alabama. As a high school senior, Myra was recruited as a cheerleader for Calhoun Community College. Myra Black King returned to Calhoun as a Physical Education instructor/coach in 1976 and became one of the top coaches in the history of the Alabama Junior/Community College Conference.
A native of Athens, Alabama, King graduated from Clements High School. She completed two years at John C. Calhoun State Technical and Junior College prior to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education at Athens State College. She pursued her Masters of Science degree from the University of North Alabama while teaching at Athens High School. King was the catalyst for girls' sports at Athens. Hired as a physical education teacher, she coached basketball, bowling, track and field, softball, and volleyball as well as serving as bus driver for her teams. In 1973, her track and field team won the Alabama High School Athletic Association's state championship.
In her tenure as a Lady Warhawk basketball and softball coach, ten of her teams competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament. King's basketball teams captured region titles in 1978, 1979, and 1981 and qualified for the NJCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas. Calhoun's first basketball All-American and current ACCC Hall of Famer, Andrella Gray played on the 1978 & 1979 team. King coached women's basketball from 1976 – 1984 posting a 94-45 record.
Coach King left the coaching ranks for a few years to spend time with her small children. In 1987, she returned to build the most prolific Slowpitch Softball program in Alabama. She led the Lady Warhawk softball squads to seven consecutive AJCCC/NJCAA Region XXII championships with a career record of 290-104. Her softball program produced eleven All- Americans. Several of her players in both sports earned Academic All-American honors.
King retired from coaching duties after the 1995 softball season. In 17 years of coaching, her teams posted a phenomenal record of .720 winning percentage. Coach King remained involved in Calhoun Athletics as she served as Athletic Director from 1997 – 2001. She retired from the Alabama Community College system in 2001 when Calhoun suspended the athletic program.
King's vision and motivation for female athletes inspired many of her former players to enter the high school and college coaching ranks. King's coaching legacy earned her induction in the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
King is married to former Calhoun athlete, John Wayne King. They have two children, Corie and Andy John, both of which excelled academically and athletically at Calhoun. Corie cheered for Calhoun and Andy John played baseball. Coach King is active in her church, teaches adult classes, and shares her faith in various venues. Her favorite retirement pastime is spending time on her farm teaching horseback lessons and enjoying her three grandchildren, Andy Price, Davis, and Noelle.
Former players of Myra Black King