Gleason settled with Panthers
Mary Gleason was 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 headgirls basketball coach at St. Pius X, one of the Tigers’ main rivals.
Aside from switching allegiances, Memorial-resident Gleason is thrilled about the opportunity.
“All seven of my brothers went to St. Thomas and I attended St. 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 go way back and I consider her amentor.”
Gleason, who came to St. Pius X after a threeyear 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 championsh i p game in 1993 and claim backto-back trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and 1995 before concluding her career as SMU’s leader in 3-pointers.
Later, Gleason 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.
Gleason believes the possibilities are endless at St. Pius X, which experienced success under her predecessor Fernando Villasana, who took the Panthers to the TAPPS Class 5A State Tournament in 2011 and 2012.
“Our goal is to win district and state championships andmake it a continuous tradition,” Gleason said.
“From what I’ve seen so far, the talent is there, but wewant to change the culture and expectations at St. Pius X.”
Gleason looks forward to getting to know the players better during open gym over the next few months. St. Pius X also has varsity and junior varsity teams competing in Houston Christian’s summer league.
“It’s going to take sacrifice and hard work, but it will be worth the effort,” Gleason said.
Gleason is counting the days until the upcoming season, when St. Pius X battles TAPPS District 3-5A rivals such as St. Agnes.
“I still have friends at St. Agnes,” Gleason said. “I don’t think it will be awkward for me, but we’ll see.”