Dodson selected to lead Lady Tigers freshman basketball team

Pictured above: Lady Tigers head freshman basketball coach, Kori Dodson. For Dodson, teaching runs in the family, as her parents Daryl and Gina are both teachers. (Submitted photo)

Nevada R-5 recently named Kori Dodson of Liberal, as the new head coach of the Lady Tigers freshman basketball team, replacing Anne Smoot.

In addition, Dodson will serve as a varsity girls assistant coach on Brent Bartlett's Lady Tigers basketball staff, as well as an assistant on Ashley Thoreson's volleyball staff.

The 22-year-old Dodson graduated from Liberal High School in 2012, and then spent two years as a student-athlete at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, where she was a member of the women's basketball team. From there, Dodson transferred to Pittsburg State University, completing her physical education degree in May.

While attending PSU, Dodson was on the freshman girls basketball and volleyball coaching staffs at Fort Scott High School.

"I'm excited to be able to get a start somewhere and begin my journey," Dodson said. "I'm close to my hometown, and my dad used to teach here."

In addition to spending time at NHS, Dodson's father Daryl, is the athletic director at Bronaugh High School, as well as the head coach of girls basketball, volleyball, and softball.

Kori certainly has the coaching pedigree, telling the Daily Mail it's a dream come true to be able to follow in her father's footsteps.

"I've learned everything from him," she said. "I've bee in the gym since I was barely old enough to walk. Growing up around that atmosphere, sports is something we've bonded over and have always loved.

"He has taught me everything from how to dribble to game-strategies and philosophies."

As an assistant on Bartlett's staff, Kori said she is eager to learn from the all-time winningest coach in Lady Tigers history.

"I played against him in high school," she said of Bartlett, "he always puts together good teams. Hopefully he takes me under his wing and turns me into the type of coach he is."

"I'm looking forward to working with coach Dodson," Bartlett said.

Kori added that Lady Tiger basketball fans can expect her freshman team to get out and run, and be fundamentally sound on the defensive end of the floor. Kori will be replacing the retiring Gail Wilson as a physical education teacher at the high school.