Yolanda Moore resigned from her job as girls basketball coach at Heritage Academy to concentrate on completing the course work necessary for her to obtain a Ph.D, according to a statement released Thursday by the school.
The statement, which was approved by the school’s board of directors and Moore, also said Moore’s daughter, Ashley Washington, remains in school at Heritage Academy and is a member of the varsity girls basketball team.
Headmaster Tommy Gunn declined further comment on the matter, citing the school’s policy on personnel matters.
Moore said in an email to The Dispatch she didn’t have any comment on the situation that stemmed from an apparent incident Tuesday at the Heritage Academy girls basketball team’s game against Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
WCBI reported Wednesday night there was a “cussing exchange” between Moore and Heritage Academy senior center Rachel Hollivay at the game. It also said Moore was dismissed because of a “series of issues and disputes with her behavior and performance.”
Moore declined to comment on that characterization.
WCBI said Hollivay, one of the nation’s top players, and freshman Ashley Washington were no longer members of the team and that Moore no longer was coach of the team.
Ray Hollivay Sr., the father of Rachel, confirmed Wednesday night to The Dispatch that Rachel no longer is a member of the school’s basketball team. He said Rachel will remain a student at the school.
Moore, a former basketball standout at the University of Mississippi and a former player in the WNBA, was hired in May.
Gunn said Friday morning that Heritage Academy varsity boys basketball coach Yandell Harris will coach the school’s varsity girls, while Chris Ball, who is the junior high school boys basketball coach, will coach the JV girls. The team doesn’t play against until Dec. 16.
Moore was a Parade All-American at Port Gibson High School who went on to score 1,485 points at Ole Miss from 1992-96. She played for former Ole Miss coach Van Chancellor with the WNBA’s Houston Comets, where she helped the team win championships in 1997 and ’98. She also played for the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle in 1999 and in Europe and Asia for two years.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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