Lehigh’s Lady-In-Charge: Dawn McNew

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Lehigh’s Dawn McNew is the only female head coach of a boys’ basketball team in the county.

But she’s also the only local coach who has an 18-1 record.

“They’ve never treated me any different because I’m female,” said Lehigh Head Boys’ Basketball Coach Dawn McNew.

She may stand out, but she always stands tall when she’s coaching her players.

“She’s a woman that takes her job seriously,” said Lehigh Freshman Forward Emmitt Williams.

“She knows how to discipline us, ” said Senior Abed Abu-Khadier. “She keeps us right.”

Her team’s record speaks for itself.

“I treat her like any other coach,” said Williams. “She has to be a good coach if she’s on the varsity level, coaching a team that’s 18 and 1.”

“She definitely knows what she’s talking about — she’s a great coach,” said Abu-Khadier.

Previously, McNew was a very successful girls’ basketball coach. She won a state title when she coached in Indiana.

She knew the transition to coaching boys wouldn’t be easy.

“If you want to be successful at anything,” said McNew. “You have to earn it”

She attributes her team’s success this year to chemistry.

“You hear us say — Family — in every huddle,” said McNew, “and we do really take that literally.”

Her players seem to like it.

“On and off the court she’s a mother,” said Williams. “Whenever you need her — that’s the person to call.”

“She’s like an angel.”