Gleason gets settled withpanthers
New St. Pius X head girls coach brings plenty of experience
MaryGleasonwas a star basketball player at St. Agnes, but, in a few months, she’ll be going up against her almamater.
The 1991 St. Agnes graduate recently was hired as head girls basketball coach at St. Pius X, one of the Tigers’ main rivals.
Aside f r om switching allegiances, Gleason is thrilled about the opportunity.
“All seven of my brothers went to St. Thomas and I attendedSt. Agnes,” Gleason said. “Getting a Catholic education was extremely important to our family and I’m thrilled to coach at a school that shares my core values.”
Gleason noted that her friendship with Sister Donna Pollard, St. Pius X’s head of school, played a role in her decision to join the Panthers.
“Sister Donna Pollard coached basketball and was a teacher when I was at St. Agnes,” Gleason said. “We goway backand I consider her amentor.”
Gleason, who came to St. PiusXafter a three-year stint as head women’s basketball coach at Houston Baptist University, brings a wealth of experience, both as a player and coach.
At St. Agnes, Gleason was a multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball, softball and volleyball. However, she excelled at hoops, eventually walking on at Southern Methodist University.
By the second semester of her sophomore season, Gleason had earned a basketball scholarship at SMU. Gleason helped the Mustangs reach the Women’s NIT championship game in 1993 and claim back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and 1995 before concluding her career as SMU’s leader in 3-pointers.
Later, Gleas on competed professionally in Europe for upper-division teams in Switzerland and Spain and, in 1998, was invited to a tryout for the WNBA’s Houston Comets.
After more than a decade in the college ranks, Gleason embraced the challenge of coaching in highschool.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to be a role model and teach them what I know about the game of basketball and about life,” Gleason said.