Historic convergence

As players, Necole Tunsil and Dee Feazell had little in common. As coaches, they share a trait rarely found in bay area girls basketball.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published February 18, 2006

They were opposites as players.

Necole Tunsil dominated inside, a 6-foot-1 wonderchild with an abundance of skills. Dee Feazell operated close to the ground, a 5-foot-3 guard with a feathery touch.

As coaches, though, their paths mirror each other. Both were stars who came back to lead their alma maters. Tunsil at Lakewood High. Feazell at Largo High.

They also are African-American women who are directing two of Pinellas County's most successful high school girls basketball programs in a profession predominantly driven by white males.

Tunsil and Feazell face each other in the Class 5A region final at 7 tonight at Largo. It is the first time the area has seen two African-American female coaches meet for the right to go to the state tournament.

"I feel blessed to have that opportunity," Tunsil said. "I know Dee feels the same way. It's definitely time for something like this to happen."

Added Feazell: "We are the ones who are representing the county and the area, and I know we'll do it to the best of our abilities."

In the area, hiring African-American women to coach high school girls is more the exception than the rule.

Of the 80 public and private schools in the area that field girls basketball teams, only five have black female coaches.

"There should be more," Tunsil said. "There are so many former athletes in the area who should be coaching in high school. Instead, they're coaching AAU teams. Maybe they find it difficult to get in the school system, but I find it's so much more rewarding because I can relate, as an African-American female, to some of these girls and help them on and off the court."

Tunsil, 35, led Lakewood to a state championship in 1989. During her high school career, she was twice named a Parade magazine All-American and in 1989 was considered one of the nation's top five prep players. She went on to earn college All-America honors at Iowa and later played professionally.

She became coach at Lakewood last season and now devotes herself to girls who might otherwise be abandoned. She's funny, demanding and available.

"I can't even explain how much she's meant to me," Spartans guard Kquanise Byrd said of Tunsil. "She's more than a coach. She's a friend. She supports us on the court, at home, in the classroom."

Feazell, who played for the Packers from 1999-2001, served as an assistant for two seasons before taking over as coach.

"Actually, I've been coaching all my life," Feazell said. "I'm a guard, and I've always been taught to be a coach when I'm playing. The only thing different is now I'm doing it with a polo shirt and khaki pants on."

So a player who considers herself a student of the game has become a teacher, albeit one whose pupils often address her by her first name and who is one of the best players on the court at practice. Feazell, 22, often participates in drills as she instructs her players in the uptempo style she prefers.

Though there is an age gap, Tunsil and Feazell became fast friends. In 2003, Tunsil coached Feazell's younger sister, Tish, on an AAU team. That same year, Tunsil could not coach her AAU team at nationals because of a previous commitment, so she asked Dee to take over.

"That was a great honor that Necole would ask me to do that," Feazell said. "We have a lot of respect for each other, and we both have the same vision: to help kids become better athletes and students."

Two weeks ago, Lakewood and Largo played in the Pinellas County Athletic Conference championship game, which the Packers won. Afterward, Tunsil told Feazell she fully expected both teams to meet again in the playoffs.

"It doesn't surprise me that our teams have gone this far," Tunsil said. "For us, this goes much deeper than just being a coach at our alma mater. This is something special."

[Last modified February 18, 2006, 02:15:16]