Monitor File Photo
Mabank Volleyball Head Coach Stacy Shelton with the Lady Panthers. Shelton announces her retirement from coaching and education after 35 years, including the last 23 years at Mabank High School.

MABANK–Veteran coach and teacher Stacy Shelton announced her retirement from coaching and education Feb. 5.
Shelton has spent the last 35 years as a coach and an educator with the last 23 years at Mabank High School. Shelton previously spent nine years at Athens High School, a year at Plano’s Vines High School and two years at Malakoff High School before settling in Mabank. 
She says one of the things she’ll miss the most about showing up to campus everyday is the student-athletes and her partner physical education class.
Shelton has had many special moments in her three and a half years in education, so she couldn’t narrow it down to just one.
“Being able to introduce the Valedictorian when I coached at Athens,” Shelton said was one of the more personal moments. “They got to pick an influential person to introduce them at graduation and I got chosen!”
Having a hand in starting the girls’ powerlifting program in Mabank was another big moment in Shelton’s history with the Lady Panthers, as well as coaching the 2007 volleyball team that was ranked No. 7 in the state of Texas.
“Best group of girls that were unselfish and they were servants of the game of volleyball,” Shelton said of the ’07 team. 
The Partner PE program was an accomplishment for Shelton as part of her teaching career. She also took several male and female athletes to the State track and powerlifting meets in her coaching tenure.
“But most of all, seeing all the students and student-athletes grow up and to have been a small part of their lives,” Shelton said was something close to her as she reaches retirement. “I hope to leave the impact of knowing that they can achieve anything in life if they just put their mind to it. Never give up!” 
So, the only question left is,” What’s next for the Mabank volleyball program?” After 23 years and over 500 wins under her belt, Shelton leaves the Lady Panthers volleyball squad with lasting memories and a spot for the right person to step in and take over.
“I hope what is next for the volleyball program at Mabank is for the athletes to continue to strive to be servants of the game,” Shelton said of the student-athletes coming into next season. “I hope Mabank will find a new coach that will fight for the program as much as I have in the 23 years I’ve been here. Also, I hope they find someone who will coach them to the best of their abilities.” 
With the vacancy at the helm of the Lady Panthers to be determined, Shelton leaves a lasting legacy and a bright spot, both in the classroom and on the court.