THE COACH THELMA
DANLEY SCHOLARSHIP

For thirty-six years, Thelma Danley served as a physical education instructor, athletic coach, and mentor for Newport News Public Schools. Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education with an endorsement in Driver’s Education, the life-long resident of Hampton, Virginia and Norfolk State University graduate began her teaching career in 1971. Her coaching career started in 1974 as a tennis and assistant track and field coach. In 1989, Coach Danley became the head track coach at Warwick High School, where she provided leadership, mentorship, and inspiration to future nuclear engineers, NFL players, Olympic gold-medal coaches, and neurosurgeons, among others until her retirement in July 2007.

A truly inspirational and empathetic educator, Coach Danley was beloved by the entire Warwick Raider student body. Throughout her career, she particularly enjoyed working with low-income and potential first-generation college student-athletes because she saw that so many of them had a desire to strive for the best no matter how seemingly dire their present situations. Teaching and coaching on both the intermediate / middle school and high school levels allowed Coach Danley to witness her students develop as athletes and mature as individuals. Her motto to them was, “don’t let your situation take away from your future goals and endeavors.” 

According to Mikael Davis, Dean of Student Achievement at Hampton University, "While her support was felt by all, arguably no one has embodied Coach Danley’s legacy better than Maurice Pierce, Director of Track and Field at Hampton University, whose college and professional athletes have won thirty-three MEAC and Big South championships in women's and men's track and field, woman's Cross Country, as well as World Championships and two Olympic medals. The scholarship awarded in her honor will ensure that Coach Danley's passion for education is realized through current worthy students."

cOACH tHELMA DANLEY scholarship application

NONE OF THE FUNDS COLLECTED FOR THE OPTIMIZING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED TO MY SON, whose diligence in securing scholarships and tuition remission to fund all tuition, fees, room & board, pre-college expenses, and books enabled me to devote months of logistical planning to this initiative to benefit other students. All receivables and capital outlays will be detailed in our forthcoming annual report. 

Coach Danley’s impact on so many of us from downtown Newport News was immeasurable. I was always struck by how passionately she coached. Her concern for you as an individual was unmistakable and when you were on the track her voice was distinguishable from every other coach or spectator in the stadium." ​

​- DONNELL JONES, Class of 1991