Sharrona Reaves

Sharrona Reaves

 Photo: Ensworth

On Tuesday, Ensworth announced former Tennessee assistant Sharrona Reeves will be named the school's next head girls basketball coach.

The Murfreesboro native will be replacing Mary Taylor Cowles, who resigned in April to become the athletic director and girls basketball coach at Foundation Christian Academy in Kentucky. 

Cowles led the Tigers to four Division II-AA state titles and 200-48 record during her nine seasons at the helm. 

“I am deeply honored to be named the head girls basketball coach at Ensworth," Reaves said in a release from Ensworth.

"This program has always been known for winning championships, and it is my intention to continue the legacy and respect built by Mary Cowles. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Head of School Prentice Stabler and Athletics Director Jason Maxwell for this great opportunity. I am excited to be a part of the Ensworth community." 

Reaves returns to Middle Tennessee with an extensive college basketball coaching resume, including stints as an assistant coach at Troy, Mississippi State, and West Virginia and time as head coach at LIU Post and College of Central Florida. 

The former Oakland High School star also coached under Holly Warlick on the Lady Vols staff from 2016-19. She also had a brief stint coaching middle school basketball at the University School of Nashville. 

“Sharrona brings a great deal of experience to our program and her passion for the game of basketball is undeniable,” Ensworth athletic director Jason Maxwell said in the release. “Sharrona is a person of high integrity, and she will continue the tradition of excellence set forth by her predecessor, Mary Cowles.”

Following her time at Oakland, Reaves spent two seasons at Okaloosa-Walton Community College before transferring to Alabama. Reaves helped lead the Crimson Tide to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 1994 during which she was the team captain. 

This past season, Ensworth went 16-11 and fell to Briarcrest 56-50 in the first round of the DII-AA state playoffs. The Tigers had reached the state title game in five of the past six seasons prior to 2023-24.