Mardela Community Mourns Passing Of Legendary Coach And Teacher Barbara McCool

Barbara McCool, 71, who since 1965 had served Mardela Middle and High School as a physical education teacher and coach of girls basketball and other sports, died Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Arrangements are being handled by Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. Coach McCool’s funeral service will be held at Mardela Middle and High School at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

“I loved her and she loved kids,” Principal Lori Batts said. “She went to the ends of the earth to help students. She put so much of her time, money, blood, sweat and tears into this school and we are grateful for her.”

McCool received a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian College in Boone, N.C., in 1960, and for five years she taught physical education in Virginia school districts. In 1965 she was hired as a teacher for Mardela Middle and High, and she remained there for the rest of her career, serving not only as a teacher but as the athletic director and girls head basketball coach. She also served as head coach of the boys soccer team for three years at a time when a strong coach was needed to rebuild the program.

“As a head coach, she was a true professional, performing her duties with the utmost efficiency and ability. She was an innovative and dynamic coach, infusing her athletes with tremendous motivation and instilling in them a desire to be the best they can be,” said Ralph Osborne, who as supervisor of athletics for Wicomico County Public Schools supervised Coach McCool for 23 years. Though she coached at one of the smallest high schools in the state, she fostered a tradition of success for her teams and athletes. She was recognized earlier this year for reaching the milestone of 600 career varsity wins, and in 2008-09 was selected as the Maryland District VIII Athletic Director of the Year. Her teams had numerous county, conference and regional titles over the decades.

“While she was demanding of her athletes, she always had their best interests at heart. She nurtured them and encouraged them in all their endeavors,” Osborne said. “Her demands and expectations of her athletes were only surpassed by the demands and expectations she placed on herself. She was like iron, never bending or breaking. In more than 40 years of coaching, she only ever missed one game, and that was due to an emergency stay at the hospital – with guards outside the door, of course, to prevent her leaving for the game.”

Liza Hastings, assistant principal at Bennett Middle School, played for Coach McCool from 1988-92. Unlike one of her contemporaries, Tia Jackson, Hastings did not seem destined for a career in basketball either as a player or coach. That didn’t matter to Coach McCool, who pushed every player to be their personal best no matter what their level of ability. Though Hastings was not a natural athlete, “She never let me use that as an excuse. She taught me to push myself, that you have to have pride, and that you never settle… She pushed, and because of that I pushed, and that translated into academics and other areas of high school, like getting into the SGA (Student Government Association).”

“I have such respect for her, I really do. She’s one of my heroes,” Hastings said.

Ron Wainwright, a Mardela High School history teacher and former Wicomico Teacher of the Year, held Coach McCool in high esteem after knowing her for 25 years and spending 14 years as her assistant coach for soccer, track and basketball. “She sacrificed a lot of her own personal life for the kids and the school,” he said. “I know of no person who has ever put in as much time for the kids and the basketball program and the school as she did – ever.”

“She would do or say anything if it was in the best interest of the kids,” Wainwright said.

The Mardela Middle and High School family and the community will celebrate her life and career even as they mourn her passing. She will be missed by many in Wicomico County and beyond.

“Coach McCool exemplifies our Wicomico County teaching staff in her intense dedication to the success of every student in her care,” said Dr. John Fredericksen, superintendent of schools. “She was the consummate professional in her knowledge of her subjects and students. She spent the time needed not only to bring their skills up to the highest level at which they could achieve, but to give the gift of focused attention to each student who entered her classroom, field or gym. She was a true teacher in the highest sense of the title.”