Bishop Gorman head coach Kevin Murray. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tyler Legacy’s Ross Barber and Bishop Gorman’s Kevin Murray earned coaching awards from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Barber was named the winner of the Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award for Class 6A, and Murray was named the winner of the Don Coleman Outstanding Coach of the Year Award for mid-size private schools.

After winning three district games in 2023-24 and finishing in last place in District 10-6A, Barber led the Lady Raiders to a 30-4 record, a District 10-6A championship and a trip to the second round of the playoffs, where it fell to Class 6A Division I state finalist Cedar Hill.

“What means the most to me about winning this award is that it recognizes all the efforts and hard work put forth by our players and coaches,” Barber said. “This is not possible without the dedication of the program. I am so proud of what we have accomplished in one year. We are not a program that is ok with mediocrity, and we always want to represent ourselves, our families, Tyler Legacy High School, Tyler ISD and the City of Tyler to the best of our ability.

“Our coaches have worked so hard to bring a basketball program to Tyler Legacy that players, families, leadership and alumni can be proud of. For the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches to recognize our hard work and dedication to that means the world to me. There are many great programs in the state led by great coaches, so it is a true honor to receive this award.”

This season, Barber surpassed the 200-win mark at Legacy and the 300-win mark for his career.

Murray led Bishop Gorman to the TAPPS State Tournament in Class 3A in 2023-24. Moving up to Class 4A, the Crusaders went 20-8 this season.

“It’s great to see us move up a level to a jam-packed division and compete at a high level,” Murray said. “It just tells us the culture we’ve built at Bishop Gorman. We want it to continue for the younger guys, continue the streak of building a good culture.”

Bishop Gorman’s Jaylon Miles was an all-state pick by the TABC for mid-size private schools. Bishop Gorman’s Sylvie Geer was named a Student Assistant of the Year by the TABC.

Palestine’s Korbyn Hernandez and Hudson’s Will Shrout also earned Student Assistant of the Year honors.

Longview St. Mary’s head coach Ronnie Rains was the winner of the Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award for small private schools.

Rains head coach Laura Jenkins was a finalist in Class 3A, and Paris North Lamar head coach Brittney Tisdell was a finalist in Class 4A.

Other Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award winners were Alice’s Marili Santos (5A), Salado’s Diane Konarik (4A), Tolar’s Ericka Halfman (3A), Christoval’s Brad Blalock (2A), Texline’s Dawson Nicholson (1A) and St. Pius X’s Walter Gordy III (large private). Blalock is the former head coach at Hallsville.

Gary head coach Jimmy Wallace was the Don Coleman Outstanding Coach of the Year Award in Class 2A.Gary went 27-9 and advanced to the regional semifinals before falling to state champion Martin’s Mill 45-38, which was the smallest margin of victory in the postseason for the Mustangs.

Union Hill’s Trent Taylor and Groveton Centerville’s Geoffrey Hollis were finalists in Class 1A.

Other Don Coleman Outstanding Coach of the Year Award winners were Mesquite Horn’s Ondra Waddy (6A), El Paso Chapin’s Tevin Caldwell (5A), Waco La Vega’s William Cartwright IV (4A), Keene’s Billy Coffin (3A) and Loop’s Bobby Avery (1A).