Harker Heights girls basketball head coach Shirretha Nelson jumped into a new category Tuesday night.
With the Lady Knights’ 42-26 victory over Temple on the road Tuesday night, Nelson joined the 300-win club on the dot.
“I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to coach very talented players. The players did a majority of the work,” said Nelson, an Ellison grad who is in her 15th season guiding the Lady Knights. “Getting to 300 wins has also taken the support of my campus –– including teachers and administrators –– along with players’ parents, the community and great coaching staffs that always supported my vision.”
Killeen ISD executive director for athletics Latisha Williams extended her congratulations to Coach Nelson, who celebrated with the team following the triumph over the Tem-Cats.
“This achievement is evidence of Coach Nelson’s unwavering dedication, work ethic and love for her student-athletes,” Williams said.
The 2024-2025 Lady Knights are 23-9 overall and 9-1 in district play, inching closer to a coveted league championship. Already in their back pockets is a playoff spot.
During Nelson’s previous 14 years at the helm, Harker Heights had six 20-plus win campaigns –– including 35 wins in 2011-2012 and 32 in 2019-2020 –– and qualified for the postseason nine times.
“I really just feel grateful and blessed,” Nelson said. “This is an accomplishment that I feel I share with many other people. My husband David, children Triston and Taneel, and my family have been very supportive of my love of basketball. Without them and their sacrifices, I would not be here.”
The Lady Knights have two games remaining in the regular season, both at home. They host Copperas Cove on Friday night and Waco Midway on Feb. 4. Game time is 7 p.m. for each.
Three other current KISD high school basketball coaches have at least 300 wins: Jason Fossett, Harker Heights (531), Alberto Jones Jr., Ellison (436) and Sherry McKinnon, Ellison (412).
