After two years at the helm, veteran high school basketball coach LaKenya Knight will be retiring at the end of this school year. 

Knight, who has been coaching in the State of Alabama for nearly three decades said it was just time for her to call it a career.

“My parents have gotten older and I want to spend more time with them,” Knight said of her decision. “I thought this was a great time and opportunity to do that. I’ve had two great seasons here in Troy and wanted to end (my career) on a good note.”

Knight had to step in and fill the shoes left by one of the best girls’ basketball coaches in state’s history, Dyneshia Jones-Elder, who retired in 2023. Knight’s career closes with more than 400 career wins, two state championships and being the first female basketball coach to coach a boys’ varsity team when she led Jeff Davis for five years.

“Some of my favorite memories are of winning back-to-back state championships with the same girls,” Knight said of her career. “Getting to be the head coach of the boys team was also a big thing for me. That was something fantastic and an amazing experience.” 

Knight said that ending her career at CHHS meant a lot to her, as well. Along with coaching girls basketball, Knight was also a cross country and flag football coach. 

“It was a tremendous experience,” Knight said of her time at Charles Henderson. “Getting to follow someone like Coach Jones, the rich tradition she built here, and hoping to maintain that tradition was special. It was an awesome experience with some great girls.” 

Replacing her as head coach of the girls team will be Pike County High School graduate Thad Frazier. Frazier was approved as the new girls coach at the April 21 Troy City Schools Board of Education meeting. Frazier previously was an assistant coach on the Charles Henderson boys team. 

Frazier played basketball at Pike County and earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice at Jacksonville State University. Frazier began his coaching career as an assistant basketball coach at Pike County in 2013, including being the staff of the 2020 State Championship team. He served as an assistant varsity boys coach and then became the head girls basketball coach for one season before accepting the position of assistant coach with the varsity boys team at CHHS in 2021. He also served as an assistant coach on the girls team at Enterprise State Community College for one season. 

“My one year at Pike County coaching the girls, I really loved it and I enjoyed my time at ESCC,” Frazier said of accepting the position at CHHS. “I feel like it’s the girls time to shine and I love being around them and working with them.”

Frazier said that while there are big shoes being left to fill from the past two coaches, he wants to build on what they’ve already built. 

“You can never replace two legends,” he said. “The goal is to continue to build off what they’ve already done and one day become a state champion with these girls.” 

Frazier is going to hit the ground running with the Lady Trojans this offseason.

“Strength and conditioning is our main focus right now and continuing the development on the team,” he said. “We want to try to become one big family and build on the legacy that Coach Jones and Knight have left here.”