Alexis McCoy honored by NCHSAA as athletic director of the year

Alexis McCoy wasn't sure why she was asked to attend the NCHSAA Annual Awards Celebration on Wednesday, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

McCoy, the District Athletic Director for the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, was named the Dave Harris Athletic Director of the Year at the ceremony.

"I was completely surprised," McCoy said. "I had no idea, and I was pretty shocked by it."

Que Tucker, the NCHSAA Commissioner, reached out to McCoy and asked if she could attend.

"Towards the end, I told Chris (her husband) that I think they invited me by mistake," McCoy said with a laugh. "Then I heard my name called for the award, and I was just floored."

McCoy became the first female District Athletic Director for the school system last July after John Sullivan resigned. She was an assistant under Sullivan for four years and was directly responsible for the operations of middle school sports.

She currently oversees athletic programs for 12 high schools and 16 middle schools.

McCoy was the athletics director at Reagan from 2011 to 2021 and began serving as an assistant AD there in 2005 when the school opened.

She has served in the district since 1999 as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator at both Reagan and Reynolds.

McCoy was recognized by the NCHSAA for playing a critical role in organizing NCHSAA championship events in Winston-Salem, including regional and state basketball championships, and has contributed to statewide initiatives, including service on the NCHSAA Flag Football Committee.

Girls Flag Football will be a sanctioned sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

McCoy was also quick to point out that several local schools were also recognized at the ceremony, including the Mount Tabor and Reynolds soccer teams.

Mount Tabor received the Commissioner's Cup for their commitment to community service by their boys and girls soccer teams, and the Reynolds girls were recognized for having the highest team GPA.

Joe McCormick, the outgoing athletics director at Glenn, received the "Unsung Hero" award for his dedication through the years to the regional and state wrestling championships. McCormick is retiring from the district in July.

Gunnar Douglass, a senior track and field athlete at West Forsyth, was recognized with a FloSports scholarship for demonstrating excellence in academics, leadership, and athletic achievement.

"It's always nice to see everyone from around the state get recognized, especially people from our schools," McCoy said. "It was really special to receive this and I felt honored. I'm very appreciative of it."

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