Athletic Hall of Honor Inductees 2006

Tamika Catchings

Tamika Catchings played volleyball and basketball at Duncanville High School, leading the volleyball team to a state championship in 1995 and the basketball team to a state championship in the 1996-97 season.

From Duncanville, Tamika went to the University of Tennessee where she was selected Freshman of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, The Sporting News, and the Southeastern Conference coaches. A four-time Kodak All-American at Tennessee, Tamika helped the Lady Vols compile a 134-10 record, four Southeastern Conference titles, and the NCAA Championship in 1998. She is one of only two Lady Vols to score 2,000 plus points and pull down 1,000 rebounds.

In addition, Catchings received an ESPY award as the 2000 College Player of the Year as well as the Naismith National Player of the Year Award. After Tennessee, Tamika was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the First Round of the 2001 WNBA Draft (third overall).

In 2002, Tamika won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, was the runner-up in voting for the league's MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year. She became the first Fever player ever to be named to the All-WNBA First Team. She is an Olympic gold medalist and was a starter in every game of the 2004 Olympics representing the United States. Tamika has made WNBA history. She has reached all four significant career milestones (2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, 300 steals) in the shortest amount of time.

In 2005 the WNBA named her Defensive Player of the Year, and she was third in balloting for MVP. Catchings was the top overall vote-getter for 2006 WNBA All-Star Game, and earned the 2006 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors. She is as active in the community as she is on the basketball court. It is that combination that makes her such a special person and model athlete.

Away from the basketball court, she was honored as a Reynolds Society Achievement Award recipient. This annual award is given to an individual who has overcome hearing, vision or voice loss, and who has distinguished themselves and provided inspiration to others. She received this award based on her strength of character and outstanding achievements as a scholar and an athlete.

During the off-season, it is not uncommon to see Catchings in local gyms, making good on promises made to her young fans that “she'll show up to cheer them on.” She gives countless hours of her time teaching at basketball camps and clinics, and motivating youth to be all that they can be. In 2006, Tamika’s community contributions earned her the honor of being a finalist for the Coach John Wooden Citizenship Cup award, awarded by Athletes for a Better World.

Barry Foster

A 1987 graduate of Duncanville High School, Barry Foster led the Panthers to district championships in 1986 and 1987. Barry was voted First Team All-State and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 1987.

After DHS Barry played at the University of Arkansas, where he helped the Razorbacks win two Southwest Conference titles. In 1990, he was drafted as the 19th pick of the 5th round (128th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1992, Foster became the starting running back for the Steelers, rushed for a Steelers single season record of 1690 yards and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also voted to the NFL Pro Bowl in 1992. Barry was off to another 1000 plus yards season in 1993, but injuries limited him to 711 yards in 9 games with 8 touchdowns. He still made the Pro Bowl that year despite the injuries. Foster played 11 games in 1994 and gained 851 yards.

Foster became a coach in the NFL Europe in 2003. He became the running backs coach for the Rhein Fire.

Phil McNeely

The most successful and longest tenured boys’ basketball coach in Duncanville history, Phil McNeely began his coaching career in 1977 in Irving, Texas. He moved to Duncanville in 1982 as the Jr. Varsity Coach and he became the Head Coach of the Panthers in 1984.

Under his guidance, the Panthers advanced to the playoffs 18 times in 22 years. During his tenure, the Panthers  won 11 District Championships, 4 Regional Championships, and 3 State Championships (1991, 1999 and 2007). Coach McNeely’s teams made five consecutive appearances in the Regional Tournament. On February 24, 2006, McNeely won his 600th game.

He played high school basketball in Denton, Texas. McNeely earned his degree from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas while still playing basketball. He received his MEd from Texas A&M at Commerce in 1995.

During the summer of 2000, McNeely was chosen by USA Basketball to coach the South team in the Jr. Olympics. Coach McNeely and his wife Renee have been actively involved in the Duncanville community and the Duncanville Independent School District for the over 20 years. Many of Coach McNeely’s players have gone on to the college and professional ranks.

Greg Ostertag

A 1991 graduate of Duncanville High School, Greg led the Panthers to its first boys basketball state championship. Greg was named to the McDonalds All-American team his senior year of high school and went on to a stellar career at the University of Kansas.

From 1991 through 1995, Ostertag played in two NCAA Final Fours, and had 258 career shot blocks, a record for both Kansas and the Big Eight Conference. Greg was named to the AP Honorable Mention All-American after his senior year at Kansas. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the first round in 1995. He spent the next 9 seasons playing for the Jazz before signing as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings in 2004. On August 2, 2005, Ostertag was involved in a 5-team, 13-player trade (the largest in NBA history) that sent him back to the Jazz. After the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Ostertag announced his retirement from the Utah Jazz.

In 2002, he donated a kidney to save the life of his sister Amy Hall, who was dying of kidney disease. Upon Greg’s return to basketball, he became the first player in NBA history to play after donating an organ. He has since been an advocate of organ donation and the Kidney Foundation. The athletic weight room in the basketball arena was donated to DHS by Greg.

Sharon Smith

The ultimate ambassador of Duncanville girls’ basketball, Coach Smith’s love for the Pantherettes and the city is unparalleled. A former Pantherette who started as a freshman on the DHS team, Sharon went on to play college ball at Ouachita Baptist University and became an All-American.

Coach Smith began coaching and teaching and eventually returned to Duncanville to teach and coach at Reed Middle School. With over 36 years of coaching and 31 years in the Duncanville system, Coach Smith has influenced the lives of thousands of students and has instilled a love for life and basketball. Many of Coach Smith’s former athletes have gone on to coach.

Sharon was selected as one of the first recipients of the Spirit of a Champion Award from Duncanville ISD. She was also the first recipient of the FCA Sponsors Award, which has been named in her honor as well as the Reed Middle School yearbook. Sharon is also a recipient of the Terrific Teachers Award from the state PTA and Community Builder Award from the Masonic Lodge of Duncanville.