‘Everyone’s team mom’: Redington honors late basketball coach

WASILLA — Angela Coyne Reavis was part of the Redington girls basketball program for two years. But to those around Redington Jr./Sr. High School and Huskies basketball, Reavis was more than just a coach.

“She was everyone’s team mom,” Redington boys basketball head coach Tony Brooke said.

Reavis died in August of 2018 after a battle with cancer. Brooke said those around Redington basketball wanted to find a special way to honor Reavis and her memory. Redington has renamed its annual Rally in the Valley junior varsity basketball tournament to the Angie Coyne Reavis Rally in the Valley. The Wasilla-area school hosted a special presentation for the Reavis family Thursday, during the first day of the 2019 tourney. Redington’s No. 20 jersey was retired during the presentation, in honor of Reavis, who wore the No. 20 during her playing days at Palmer High School.

Reavis’ husband of 31 years, Ed, and their daughter, Delaney, were presented with the frame jersey in front of a crowd of friends, family and fans at Redington.

“She’s going to be watching from above, cheering everybody on,” Brooke said earlier this week. “She had a passion for kids, basketball and teaching. It’s a cool thing having a tournament named after her now. That passion will live on.”

There is also a commemorative T-shirt that was been designed that Redington staff and players wore during the day Thursday, and players used during warm-ups. The front reads #team mom and Coach Reavis is on the back. Brooke said Reavis was the ultimate team mom.

“No matter what team you were on, she looked out for ya,” Brooke said. “She had the biggest heart of anybody you’d meet.”

Brooke said whatever was needed, Reavis was there to do it.

“If somebody was needed to run the gate, she’d run and go do it. If somebody was needed in the concession stand, she’d hop in and do it,” Brooke said.

The same went for the players.

“If a kid was hungry, she’d get something from the concession stand or make a run to the store,” Brooke said. “I can’t do justice putting into words what she meant to the kids here. She touched so many people’s lives in so many ways.”

The following was read during the presentation.

“Coach Angela Coyne Reavis was instrumental in the development of the sixth to 12th grade basketball program at Redington Jr./Sr. High School. Within the first two years of Redington opening its doors, Angie served as the head middle school girls’ basketball coach as well as the JV coach for the high school girls’ basketball program. Her passion for the game ran deep, but the love she possessed for her students and athletes is what set her apart. Coach Reavis was viewed as a respected coach as well as “team mom” by all who played for her. As a Redington coach, Reavis valued every member of her team regardless of experience or skill level, she taught the girls with humor and compassion, and quickly became a pillar of the community here at Redington and beyond. Aside from her teaching and coaching duties, she was always eager and willing to help with any event or club that needed a little more manpower. During her battle with cancer, Angie showed her support to Redington basketball by coming to every middle school and high school game that her body would allow her. Her love for coaching is ever-inspiring, the impact she had on this community — unmeasurable. We lovingly name our JV tournament for her — the Angela Coyne Reavis JV Rally in the Valley Memorial Basketball Tournament — and honor her too-short time with us at Redington.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.