Coach Leta Andrews and the Grabury Lady Pirates made history on December 7, 2010, with Andrews earning her 1,334th win and surpassing former Fort Worth Dunbar coach Robert Hughes as the all-time winningest high school basketball coach.

The 64-45 victory over Midlothian ended with the crowd chanting “Leta! Leta! Leta!”  After the final buzzer, the players carried Andrews across the court named in her honor.  The coach was also presented with a flower bouquet, game ball, and trophy.

“It has been a wonderful ride,” Andrews said to the huge crowd at the James Wann Sports Center.  She thanked family members, colleagues, fans, and players – with several former team members coming down on the court during the coach’s remarks.  Andrews also remembered her late parents, Clyde and Alba Rains, for their support and encouragement.

The record was 49 years in the making.  Having coached since 1962, Andrews began her career in Tolar.  She later coached in Gustine (1963-65), Comanche (1965-76), Corpus Christi Calallen (1980-1992), and Granbury (1976-1980, 1992-present).  Andrews led the Calallen Lady Wildcats to the Class 4A state title in 1990.

Andrews hit the 1,000-win mark in 1997.  Then, in December 2005, she became the winningest girls’ high school basketball coach with 1,218 wins.

Her hard work and long career have brought membership in three halls of fame:  Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Other awards have followed.  Andrews was selected as the Most Outstanding American Teacher-Coach of the Year by the Walt Disney Company in 1993.  In March 2007, she was the inaugural recipient of the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  The coach was honored in October 2009 with the Bayard H. Friedman HERO Award by Score A Goal In The Classroom school incentive program for being the most outstanding girls’ basketball coach in Texas. 

“Goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile or long lasting,” said Andrews at the beginning of the season.  “I want my young ladies to believe and that ultimate success lies in giving their personal best.  More than anything, I want my players to love the process of doing that.”