Gloria Williams, who guided Parkway to two state championships and two runner-up finishes, has stepped down as head girls basketball coach for personal reasons, per Parkway Athletic Director Coy Brotherton.
Williams took over as head coach 2016 and has been in the position for nine seasons. Her record was 196-81.
She led Parkway to the 2023 non-select Division I state championship, the first in the school’s history, a year after the Lady Panthers reached the championship game for the first time.
Parkway successfully defended its title in 2023-24. This past season, the Lady Panthers reached the championship game for the fourth straight year, falling to Zachary.
Williiams has been named Class 5A Coach of the Year twice by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Under her leadership, Parkway has gone undefeated in District 1-5A the last four seasons. The Lady Panthers have won 54 straight district games.
Williams coached two players — Mikaylah Williams and Chloe Larry — who were named the Outstanding Player in Class 5A by the LSWA. Williams was also twice named Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American.
“We are thankful for all of the time and effort that Coach Williams has put into our programs She has been a positive role model for all of the girls that she has coached,” a press release stated. “We are sad to see leave as head coach, but we are blessed to have had her leading our girls. We expect to see her around the court as she plans to remain at Parkway in a teaching position.”
Anyone interested in the position of head girls basketball coach can reach out to Principal Steven Vrbka at [email protected] or Brotherton at [email protected].