IN THE very gym where they once raced across the court, ponytails flying and coaches calling plays in sync with dribbling basketballs, Julia Duncan and McKenna Buckner now stride courtside with playbooks in hand. The same bleachers their parents once cheered from now seat a new group of fans. Each whistle they blow reminds them of their own buzzer-beaters, close games, and those unbreakable courtside bonds. As they watch the young athletes hustle and dive for the rebound, they see reflections of their former selves. On game days, the gym becomes a bridge between past and present, where the marathon of Tullahoma basketball continues.
Here in the Volunteer state, sports are a way of life. For many, it starts in school gymnasiums and carries on to collegiate or professional courts, but Duncan and Buckner’s love for the game has led them back to where it all began. Their lives couldn’t be more different, but they converge in a mutual love for basketball and their community.
Duncan, who transferred to Tullahoma from Coffee County before her high school years, spoke highly of the immediate support she received upon arriving at Tullahoma High School.
“The overwhelming support and love that I was shown when I got here impacted me,” she recalled. “I think that’s what pushed me, not only as an athlete but also as a student.”
Buckner is a Tullahoma native. She grew up in the town, attended Tullahoma schools from elementary to high school, and developed a close connection with her teammates and coaches, which shaped her career.
“Some of the key moments that shaped my career were the teachers I was surrounded by,” she said. “Tullahoma has one of the biggest support systems around, but also the girls that I played with — not only were we teammates, but we were best friends. I think that’s what made the basketball team so good.”
When the opportunity arose for stand-in coaches to step in during the summer, Duncan and Buckner were eager to help. They had played high school basketball together and remained good friends throughout college, so the chance to coach alongside each other was a perfect fit.
Duncan explained, “We’re going into this with the mindset of helping Tullahoma however we can. Whether it’s being at practice every day or giving a pep talk before a game, we’re here to support the team and the community.”
Buckner agreed, noting how her transition from player to coach has given her new perspectives.
“You see things from a new side, especially coming back to coach under someone like Coach Tinnon, who I played for in elementary school. It’s exciting to come full circle and give back to the girls who look up to us — as their coaches but also as their role models.”
As they step into their new positions, Duncan and Buckner are focused on the more personal aspects of basketball.
“We’re trying to teach the love of basketball and the love for one another,” Duncan said.
“McKenna and I didn’t always have the best games or the best circumstances when we played high school basketball, but we knew that we loved each other and the game of basketball. We’re trying to teach our girls that it’s not always going to be easy, but the reward is pushing through and getting to see the good outcome,” she continued.
Buckner added that building trust among teammates is one of her biggest goals.
“We want the girls to have fun, love their teammates, and learn to trust us as their coaches.”
Coaching requires a great deal of time commitment and perseverance, especially when balancing other responsibilities. Both Duncan and Buckner are juggling full-time jobs, with Buckner still in school. Another one of their “mountains” is working on the fundamentals with the girls, many of whom are new to the game.
“McKenna and I have the patience and the willingness to want to teach these girls how to work hard, love the game, and be good sports. It’ll be difficult to start from square one, but we’re both willing to accept the challenge. We know how much we love the game, and we want to instill that love in our young girls,” Duncan said.
Both Duncan and Buckner see coaching as an experience that will benefit them from a personal and professional standpoint. Buckner, who is preparing for a career she expects will be stressful, believes that the balancing act of coaching will equip her with good time management skills and patience.
Duncan, who recently graduated with an accounting degree and works as an auditor, credits basketball with teaching her important transferrable skills.
Duncan’s and Buckner’s paths have converged at this moment, leading them to give back to the town that shaped them in different ways. Through their leadership, they hope to inspire young female athletes to love the game, trust their teammates, and always push forward, no matter the challenge.
“One of my most important goals as their coach is to truly help them believe that they can do anything in the world. If they leave us thinking that they’re the most powerful women in the world, that’s a good thing,” Duncan said. GN
