EVANSVILLE — Mallory Ladd has stepped down as the Memorial High School girls basketball coach.
She made the move official on Thursday, April 23. It concluded a two-year stint at her alma mater and a 13-31 overall record. The Tigers finished ninth in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference this past winter and lost in the Class 3A sectional championship for the second straight season.
“This was not an easy decision,” Ladd told the Courier & Press. “But after taking time to reflect, I felt it was the right step at this time both personally and professionally. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to lead the program and be part of the Memorial community.”
Ladd was one of the more successful players in Memorial history – currently third in career points (1,803) and first in rebounds (1,163). She was the runner-up for Indiana Miss Basketball and a member of the All-Star team after helping the Tigers win their first state championship in 2011. Ladd totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds in the title game against Benton Central.
She began her college career at Valparaiso before transferring to Evansville. Ladd averaged 12.7 points and 8.4 rebounds across three seasons with the Purple Aces and was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention selection.
The Tigers struggled to a 5-19 record this past season due to youth and several season-ending injuries.
“I’m proud of the relationships built with the players and the growth I saw in them on and off the court,” Ladd said. “While wins and losses are part of the game, you can’t truly measure the memories made, the life lessons learned and the lasting impact these girls and their families had one me. There’s a strong foundation in place, and I believe the program has a lot of potential moving forward. I’m thankful for the support from the players, families and school. I wish the team continued success in the future.
“I will still be around and cheering them on in a different capacity. Memorial will always be a second home for me.”
Memorial is historically one of the more successful girls basketball programs in Evansville. The Tigers are first in city history with 18 sectional championships (last was in 2021) and second in SIAC history at 13 titles. The school said a search for a new coach begins immediately.
“Coach Ladd has been a tremendous part of the Memorial girls basketball program as a player and coach,” Memorial athletics director Chad Dockery said. “Her work ethic, values, loyalty and love for this program have been evident and is mirrored in our players. With her job in law enforcement and increasing demands in her field, I understand her decision. As a school, we love that she will still be around our students as an SRO and in the bleachers cheering our program on.”
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Mallory Ladd steps down as Memorial High School girls basketball coach
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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