The Dallas Wings are pleased to announce that Candice Isaac of Fort Worth is a national finalist for the Jr. NBA Scholastic Coach of The Year award. Isaac was nominated for the national award after winning the Dallas Wings Jr. NBA Local Scholastic Coach of the Year award.

In addition to Isaac, Marcus Johnson of Fort Worth is the Dallas Wings Jr. NBA Local Community Winner.

Isaac and Johnson both received a trophy and were recognized at the Dallas Wings home game on May 30. As a finalist for the national award, Isaac will receive a $1,000 grant for her organization, an equipment donation and a coaching workshop. If voted as the winner, Isaac will receive $2,000 for her organization and a national Coach of the Year trophy.

Isaac coaches at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School as part of the Fort Worth Independent School District and was recognized for her efforts to support student athletes in a low-income area. According to her nomination, Isaac went above and beyond typical expectations of a basketball coach including sourcing shoes and clothes for her players, washing team laundry every day after practice, and helping parents to understand player options for tryouts, post-secondary education, and other opportunities.

Johnson created the Fort Worth Dreamteam Elite, a travel basketball team that grew within a year from two teams to eight. According to his nomination, despite his rapidly growing and increasingly successful club, Johnson never cut players that were with him from the beginning and takes time to connect with all his players and families. Johnson’s organization includes foster children and Johnson does the necessary work to allow those players to travel and compete for the team, including paying for children who can’t afford to play.

The coach of the year program provides opportunities to celebrate youth basketball coaches in communities around the country. Supporters of Isaac can vote for her candidacy here through June 18^th.

More information on Isaac and the award can be found here.