Portersville Christian girls basketball coach Mike McDonald named NCSAA coach of the year
Mike McDonald didn’t expect the surprise that was in store for him during a camping trip with some friends.
But on Sept. 21, his buddies took him an hour and a half from where they were staying back to Portersville Christian School, where waiting for him was his girls basketball team, family and supporters.
McDonald, who has coached the Warriors for 10 years, was awarded the National Christian School Athletic Association’s coach of the year in a surprise ceremony.
“I was shocked,” he said. “To be honest, it makes me think how blessed I am. ... I’ve just been super blessed with great kids who come through the program.”
The NCSAA recognizes a coach of the year after every season for characteristics such as a knowledge of the game and communication, winning, guiding players in sports and life, upholding a commitment to Christ, helping students and more.
“Coaching at Portersville is a great opportunity to coach just because I believe in what the school does and I believe in the ministry to the kids,” he said.
McDonald has coached the Warriors since 2014 and is 242-58 during that time with seven straight league titles, starting in 2018. He has coached basketball from the youth to high school levels for 25 years, he said, and recently retired as a family practice doctor at Slippery Rock Family Medicine after 30 years.
His dad coached at Edinboro.
McDonald is excited for the upcoming season; Portersville lost several “really good players” to graduation and has to incorporate younger players into the starting rotation.
The 62-year-old is not planning to hang it up soon, either. He became a grandfather this summer, but continues to enjoy “mentoring kids and helping them to grow as Christians and helping them to prepare for (the world),” he said.
