United States Sports Academy alumna Fay Minor was recently hired to be the Program/Sports Director at the YMCA in her hometown of Natchez, Miss.

Minor, a former collegiate and professional basketball player, earned dual Master of Sports Science degrees in sports management and sports coaching from the Academy in 2010. She chose to pursue a graduate education from the Academy because the institution encourages everyone, male or female, to pursue careers in sport.

“I love sports and when I started researching schools, the Academy had me mesmerized,” Minor said. “The idea they encouraged women and believed women could succeed in sports as a coach or an administrator was awesome. I started reading about female athletes who attended the Academy and moved on to administrative positions in sports.

“I was proud to be an Academy graduate and as a result, it inspired me to reach higher. Anyone, especially women, who desires to pursue a career in sports should contact the front-runner, the Academy. My education at the Academy has given me a solid foundation for a career in sports. I am so glad I made the right decision to attend the Academy.”

Minor played collegiate basketball at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss., where she led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in free throws as a freshman and sophomore. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication after graduating in just 3 ½ years despite being a full-time athlete. She also tried out for and made the practice squad for the WNBA’s Detroit Shock (Dallas Wings) practice squad in 1998.

As Program/Sports Director at the YMCA of Natchez Minor is responsible for providing extracurricular activities to the adults and children in the community.

“Our mission is youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility,” Minor said. “I enjoy working with youth and families. The YMCA not only takes care of the youth in the community but it also takes care of the entire family. It offers a great deal to a diverse group of people.”

Minor previously served as the executive director of the Natchez Boys and Girls Club for 12 years and oversaw nine clubs in a five-county area.

She also coached varsity girls’ basketball at Trinity Episcopal School in Natchez for seven years, winning six district championships and reaching the state regional tournament five times, including three trips to the state tournament. She also worked two years as an assistant coach for the boys’ varsity team for two seasons. “The Academy is the top school in sports education,” she said. “I was privileged to play basketball on an elite stage and I hoped one day to be able to teach the game to young athletes so they could become students of the game. The Academy provided me with the knowledge to be able to do that.”