Grace Christian Academy is pleased to announce the hiring of Dominic James Wright and Angela Phillips Wright as their next high school girls' co-head basketball coaches. 

They are a well-known local duo of basketball royalty — and one of a handful of husband-and-wife coaching tandems in the state. They may be better known as Neek + Ang, owners of Jesus is Bigger Than Basketball, who have trained over 1,000 players throughout their ministry.

Dominic James was a star point guard at Marquette, an All-American, and a former Big East Rookie of the Year. He claimed Marquette University’s "Create For Others" Award and Dwyane Wade Legacy of Leadership Award, ranking second all-time in games played (129) and assists (632), third in points (1,749), and fourth in steals (238). He currently resides in the Marquette University Hall of Fame and holds the record for having played in the most games in Marquette history, more than 30 minutes per game ever since he arrived on campus. Dominic later went on to play professional basketball overseas for right at a decade earning multiple championships and Player of the Year awards across the globe, including winning the Fiba 3x3 World Masters for the Qatar national team.

Angela, originally from Oak Ridge, TN, played high school basketball under legendary coach Jill Prudden, leading her team to two state championship appearances. She began her college career as a 4-year D1 starting point guard for the University of Kentucky and Indiana State University. Phillips started 54 consecutive games in her two-year career at Kentucky, including all 34 games during the 2004-05 season. She averaged 4.6 points and 28.6 minutes per game as a sophomore and led the team in assists in both seasons. She went on to be a 2-year starter & captain for her junior and senior seasons at Indiana State University.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring such experienced basketball players and spiritual leaders to Grace Christian Academy. The duo has an unrivaled work ethic, and it’s their passion to not only develop each player’s fundamental and advanced basketball skill sets but also to partner in a way that builds stronger families and stronger faith. They will lead our program with integrity, competitiveness, and intensity. This is an outstanding hire for the GCA community.” GCA Athletics Director Marcus Dilligard stated.

After their world travels with professional basketball, Wright and Phillips founded Neek and Ang, LLC, “Jesus is Bigger Than Basketball,” a basketball development program including training, camps, 3x3 League, and other events, as well as Christian character development. They would later be hired as men’s and women’s assistant basketball coaches at Oak Ridge High School under the direction of Aaron Green and Paige Taylor.

“We believe that Jesus is bigger than basketball.  And that belief shapes our approach to player development and drives our mission to change the culture of basketball,” said the Wrights. “There is a solid foundation in place for the Lady Rams, and it is our job to build upon that and grow a winning culture for the program.”

Grace Christian Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Athletic Director, Marcus Dilligard, as the next head boys’ basketball coach.

Dilligard was a standout player for Furman University from 1997-2001, earning All-Freshman honors, where he was a four-year starting forward and named Furman University ‘Athlete of the Year.’ Dilligard later went on to play professional basketball overseas, earning player of the year honors as well as representing Uruguay on their All-Star team.

After his playing career, Dilligard went on to be the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Carolina Christian School, followed by Victory Christian Center School, where he led the team to the NCISAA Class 1A State Championship (2021) and the NACA Division 2 National Championship (2020) as well as the 2018 USA National Prep High School Basketball Championship.

After his stint in high school basketball, Coach Dilligard transitioned to NAIA Division I basketball at the University of the Cumberlands, where he assisted the team in advancing to their 9^th consecutive NAIA National Tournament, tallying their most conference wins since the 2010-11 season and had a pair of players earn MSC First Team All-Conference accolades. 

“We are thrilled to get to partner with Coach Dilligard in a new way as the next head coach of boys’ basketball at Grace Christian Academy,” Head of School, Matt Mercer said.

“Marcus is committed to GCA’s passion for excellence in athletics and academics and, most importantly, spiritual development. He has been a student-athlete, a team captain, and a champion. Marcus is prepared and committed to driving the continued tradition of our basketball program,” Mercer added.

With a proven record as an accomplished leader and communicator, Dilligard says he is committed to guiding student-athletes in a positive manner and teaching them not only the sport of basketball but also how it relates to life and becoming Godly men. He has proven to be a strong proponent of engaging both players and coaches in program development, as well as faculty and administration, to help ensure the athletic, academic, and social well-being of student-athletes. “Coaching for me is about teaching the importance of being an excellent student-athlete in the classroom, on the court, and in the community,” Dilligard said.

“Grace Christian Academy is a special place, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Rams basketball program,” said Dilligard. “There is a solid foundation in place at GCA, and I’m excited to grow a winning culture and build the Rams into a top performer in Division II-A.”

The Varsity Girls team finished 6-11 on the season.  Jade Barfield (Sr), Maria Hawkins (Sr) and Carlee Adkins (So) were named to the All-District team.

The Varsity Boys team finished 5-19.  Johnny Eller (Sr) and Dylan Doerfler (So) were named to the All-District team.

Congratulations to both teams and these outstanding players for their hard work and determination!

Since joining the Grace Christian Academy faculty, Payne has worked as an 8^th grade math teacher, middle school basketball coach, and assistant varsity football coach in addition to his four years prior coaching experience. 

A graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Payne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Business and Marketing.  He was a student athlete during his collegiate experience who played football for one season and basketball four seasons. 

Payne’s coaching experience includes his former role as assistant basketball coach at Williamsburg High School in Kentucky for 4 seasons where the team made it to the KHSAA Sweet 16 in 2015.  While on staff at Grace Christian Academy, Payne has served as Assistant Middle School Basketball coach (2017-2018), Head Middle School Boys Basketball coach (2018-2019), and Assistant High School Basketball coach (2019-2020).  Payne has also been a part of the varsity football coaching staff as an assistant coach under the direction of Head Coach Rusty Bradley.

Coach Payne is excited to begin his tenure as Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at GCA and looking forward to the future.  “I am invested and passionate about our program becoming the best it can be this year and in seasons to come. I look forward to coaching and developing our team at GCA into young men with a love for Christ and building better basketball players.”  He is married to GCA graduate, Alysha Disney Payne, and the couple is expecting their first child later this year.

GCA Athletic Director, Shawn Mehegan, expressed his great confidence in the hire.  “Coach Payne is the right man to lead our boys’ basketball program.  His passion for the game, professionalism as an educator, and love for Christ fits our mission at GCA to LEAD, BUILD, and EQUIP the next generation of leaders.”