Lacie Coquerille leads Dalton program

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Lacie Coquerille
Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

DALTON, Ga. - Former Dalton High School two-sport star Lacie Coquerille will be the new girls' basketball coach at her alma mater, according to new athletic director Jeff McKinney.

McKinney, also Dalton's assistant principal, had to resign his coaching duties because of school policy. He believes the program, which made the playoffs in 10 of his 12 years as head coach and reached the 2011 Class AAA title game, will remain in good hands.

"I don't see a lot changing with Lacie," McKinney said. "I'm excited about her taking over. She was like a coach on the floor with us, and she knows our system as well as anyone. The kids respond very well to her."

Coquerille was a four-year starter through 2007 at point guard and helped lead the Lady Catamounts to four consecutive playoff appearances and an overall record of 90-24. She was also a star on the Dalton softball team and earned a scholarship in that sport to Tennessee Tech, where she lettered for four years before joining Dalton as a basketball assistant last year.

McKinney said his next priority is to hire an assistant to replace Coquerille.

Other Mariakis returns

Keith Mariakis has returned to Ridgeland High School as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

Mariakis spent the past two years as the wrestling coach and defensive coordinator at LaFayette. He reunites with brother Mark Mariakis, Ridgeland's successful football coach.

"It just didn't work out at LaFayette for whatever reason," said Keith Mariakis, who will coach defensive backs and receivers in football. "I am very fortunate to be back at Ridgeland and to be able to work with such a great athletic staff."

He replaces Josh Keefe as the Panthers' wrestling coach after Keefe accepted an assistant's job at Dalton, where he will work with his brother, Michael Keefe.

"We'll be a very young wrestling squad," Keith Mariakis said. "We had 14 freshmen and two juniors in summer workouts, but they're hungry. We want to get back to being competitive. My last year here we finished 11th in the state, and we feel we can get back there."

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.