Word spread quickly among her friends and former players late Wednesday and early Thursday morning. Shock and sadness, the overwhelming reaction.
 
Soon it would give way to laughter and memories that flowed among the tears.
 
Grace Keith, former teacher and coach, mentor and friend to many, Chattanooga and Tennessee sports icon and fan, passed away Wednesday, July 14 following a battle with breast cancer.
 
A celebrated high school coaching career led her to become the first women's basketball coach at UTC under Title IX. She was inducted into the Mocs' Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2015.
 
As the girl's basketball coach at Hixson High School for 12 seasons she accumulated more than 200 wins. She was voted Coach of the Year and led the Wildcats district and region titles as well as a run in the state tournament.
 
Two years following her retirement from the secondary ranks, she was tapped to reboot the UTC program in 1974 and dip her toe into Division I women's basketball.
 
It was her love of the game that brought her back to the court. While the effort put in was full-time, it was just a part-time gig. She continued to teach her fifth grade class while working overtime at UTC.
 
She spent her breaks and some class time at Hixson Elementary on the phone scheduling games, booking hotel rooms, arranging for spending money on trips, reserving a van and recruiting. When school let out, she hustled to the downtown campus for practice at Maclellan Gym.
 
She didn't have an office to work out of and the team shared the women's PE locker room with the rest of the women on campus.
 
As the only coach, she was tasked with scheduling their games, plan for transportation, drive the van and rush to UTC before the business office closed at 5 p.m. to pick up the travel check the day before the team headed out for a game.
 
At home she had to arrange for the gym to be set up and scrounge around for someone to keep the clock and keep score. On top of that, she was responsible for scheduling referees and giving them their checks.
 
All because she loved the game.
 
She led Chattanooga to the AIAW South Region Tournament both seasons and posted the team's first winning record in her second year.
 
UTC started the 1975-76 season winning seven of its first nine games and topped 100 points three times. It's 113-86 win over Carson Newman still stands as the third most points scored by a UTC women's team in program history.
 
Her favorite opponent when looking back was Tennessee. The two teams met five times in those first two seasons. Pat Head was just beginning her career at that time as well. They battled three times in Keith's first year, all in tournament settings, with the Lady Vols winning all three.
 
The next year they met twice in the regular season. UTK came away with a strong victory in Knoxville, but the fifth and final meeting between the two with Keith as head coach came down to the wire.
 
The score was close throughout the game played at Maclellan Gym. UTC was able to get within a point several times, but just couldn't get ahead of the Lady Vols. With time winding down and Tennessee leading 67-66, the Mocettes missed a wide-open layup and heartbreak ensued as time expired.
 
For Grace, that's the one that got away.
 
She coached UTC through six more games, all in the post season, before stepping down. She blazed the trail for Chattanooga women's basketball and enjoyed watching its success continue from the stands alongside friend and fellow UTC Hall of Famer Catherine Neely.
 
Grace was born in Rhea County and grew up in Sale Creek. She graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College where she played basketball and still holds records today. She went on to earn her Masters Degree at MTSU.
 
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Paul Keith.
 
Her family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers to Hospice of Chattanooga at
www.hospiceofchattanooga.org or to Tennessee Wesleyn University at www.tnwesleyan.edu
 
Visitation is 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021. Services will be 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 2021 At Williamson and Sons Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
 
Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com .
 
Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379.
 
Grace Coates Keith
Hixson High School (1959-1972)
- Record: 206-92
- Three District Championships
- 6 District Runner-Up
- 1 District Third Place
- 1 District Fourth Place
- 1 Region Championship
- 2 Region Runner-Up
- 1 State Tournament Appearance
- 5 HIL Championships
- 1 City Cup Championship
- 1967 Sports Writers "Coach of the Year"
 
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- First women's coach under Title IX (1974-76)
- Led UTC to AIAW Region Tournament in her second year
- Class of 2015 UTC Hall of Fame
- Coached UTC Hall of Famer Sharon Cable Fanning-Otis
 
Other accomplishments
- Grace Keith Award established at Sale Creek High School
- Retired TSSAA Volleyball official – worked state tournament
- Member and Board Member of the "Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame"
- Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame Betty Probasco Lifetime Achievement Award
- First person inducted into Chattanooga Volleyball Officials Association Hall of Fame
- First female inducted into Wesleyan College Hall of Fame
- Tennessee Wesleyan College J. Neal Ensminger Distinguished Alumnus Award
- During retirement won Senior Olympic medals in basketball, volleyball and softball