Legendary East Ridge High School coach Catherine Neely has died from COVID-19.
Ms. Neely passed away early Wednesday morning.
She had been ill for some time and in and out of hospital for last 14 months.
Her husband had contracted Covid and Ms. Neely got it as well.
She is in numerous Halls of Fame.
One has this summation of her illustrious career:
Anyone playing high school volleyball today, no doubt has heard the name Catherine Neely. She was, and continues to be, a major force in raising awareness and popularity in the sport.
A long-time resident of the Chattanooga area, Catherine Neely graduated from Hixson High School and The University of Chattanooga, then graduated with a M.E.D. degree from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. One of her most notable accomplishments was being recognized as the winningest volleyball coach in Tennessee since the sanctioning of the sport in the state in 1976. Additionally, she ranked in the top five in the U.S. in wins. Neely served our state as a high school representative for the American Volleyball Coaches Association and also the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Coach Neely currently serves as the Athletic Director for East Ridge High School. She has served as District Tournament Director for both volleyball and basketball for numerous years. She received the Scrappy Moore Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Coach Neely and her husband, William A. Neely, have one son, Marshall Allen Neely.