It was a special night at Jena High School Friday, January 12, as the school and community honored one of its longest serving coaches in school history.

Ted McKee, who was the Jena Giants boys’ basketball head coach for 22 seasons, had a reception in his honor Friday afternoon, prior to the basketball games at the school in what organizers termed as “Ted McKee Night.” During the reception, family, friends and former fellow coaches and players spoke highly of the coach and the success he had during this time at the school.

“He was one of the most successful coaches Jena ever had,” former Jena football coach Mack Fowler said. “His winloss record was not a true reflection of the type of coach he was because he took undersized and undertalented guys each year and had them competitive.”

Stories of exciting wins and games that the Giants should have been beaten easily but the Giants made the games close were just some of the recollections those attending shared.

McKee is long remembered as a fiery coach who always demanded excellence from his players and officials from throughout the state knew him as a coach who would stand up for his players and knew the rules better than most of those calling his games.

McKee took the helm as the head basketball coach in 1980, kicking off a career that spanned decades and became a part of the school’s sporting legacy. He left JHS after the 2000-01 season and returned to his hometown in southwest Louisiana where he coached until 2017. He returned to Jena in 2017 for one final year before officially retiring.

Chad Wilbanks, a former player of McKee’s, said during the reception that the Ted McKee that coached him in the 1990’s was a different man from the one that came back to assist the Jena program during that 2017 season.

“I went to the Caldwell game in Caldwell just to watch him coach, that’s how special he is to me,” Wilbanks said. “I was sitting right behind the Jena bench when a Jena player made a mistake on the court. Coach McKee pulled him and set him down on the bench and walked over and calmly said to him, ‘let me tell you what you did wrong.’ I asked him after the game if this was the same Ted McKee that coached me.”

Later that evening, between the Lady Giants and Giants’ games, Jena High School Principal Adam Powell presented McKee with a special plaque recognizing his leadership, devotion and service to athletes and student of the school for 22 years as coach and teacher.

JHS Public Address Announcer Brant King told the crowd at the presentation that McKee was an exceptional coach who left a lasting impact on the basketball program and the lives of countless young men in the Jena community.

“Coach McKee guided our boys’ basketball program to more than 300 victories and multiple playoff appearances, boasting an impressive 60-percent win rate showcasing his knowledge of the game, leadership and commitment to excellence,” King said. “His impact goes beyond wins and losses as he influenced hundreds of men, not only on the basketball court, but in football, baseball, track and other sports. He inspired all of the young men that played for him with a number of former players going on to become coaches themselves, showcasing the legacy of a coach that cultivated leaders for future generations.”

“As we recognize Coach Ted McKee, let’s reflect on the success, victories and lessons learned under his guidance,” King continued. “Today, we honor not just a coach but a legend whose legacy will continue to resonate here at JHS. Coach McKee, thank you for your dedication, unwavering spirit and the memories etched in the hearts of all who were part of your journey.”

At the end of the presentation as the crowd gave the coach a standing ovation, King informed McKee that there was still one more thing that needed to be done.

With that, one of the basketball officials came out onto the court, blew his whistle, and signaled a technical foul on Coach McKee.

For most of his coaching career, McKee was known by all state officials as one that received many technical fouls during a season. In true McKee fashion, the stunt last Friday night did not faze him as he simply walked off the court with a smile on his face.