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Monday, April 6, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jimmy Burleson
Assistant Athletic Director
Dobyns-Bennett High School
T: (423) 378.8400 ext. 8490
KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Dobyns-Bennett High School is proud to announce Courtney Whitson as the next head coach of the Lady Indians basketball program. Whitson returns to her alma mater to lead the Tribe after building an extensive resume as an elite competitor and rising coaching talent. She’s the 6th head coach in program history and replaces Bill Francis, who stepped down from the position last month after twelve seasons at the helm.
“Bringing Courtney back to the Tribe is a special moment for our community,” said D-B Athletic Director Frankie DeBusk. “She is a natural leader who understands the championship culture of this program, and I am thrilled to see her bring that same competitive fire to our sidelines as she mentors our student-athletes.”
A legend in Kingsport athletics, Whitson’s journey began at Dobyns-Bennett, where she became the all-time leading scorer in school history, for both men and women, with 2,458 career points. A four-time "Miss Basketball" award winner at D-B, she also holds the school record for rebounds (1,476) and was a nominee for Tennessee Miss Basketball, Gatorade All-American and the McDonald’s All-American game.
Whitson continued her historic playing career at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where she served as team captain all four years. Her collegiate tenure was record-breaking, as she became the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (300), games played (156), and minutes played (5,479). A true "iron woman" of the court, Whitson started every single game of her career and surpassed both 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds at the Division I level. Beyond her athletic prowess, she was a three-time recipient of the MTSU President’s Award, becoming the first student-athlete in school history to achieve that honor three times. Her commitment to leadership extended off the court as well, serving as the President of the MTSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes for five years.
In addition to her storied playing career, Whitson has quickly established herself in the coaching ranks. She currently serves as a Physical Education teacher and the Head Girls’ JV Basketball Coach at Lenoir City High School, where she also assists the varsity program under Hall of Fame coach Shelley Collier. Prior to her time at Lenoir City, she served as the Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Relations at MTSU under nine-time Hall of Famer Rick Insell. In that role, she assisted with recruiting, scouting, and player development.
Whitson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) with a concentration in Secondary Education.
Upon accepting the position, Coach Whitson shared the following statement:
“Returning to my roots is not just a homecoming, it’s a mission. As a product of this community who has never stopped bleeding maroon and gray, I am profoundly honored to lead this program and give back to the faithful members who shaped me.
“I lived out my dreams wearing a Lady Indians jersey on the court; today, I am fulfilling the dream of leading this program from the sidelines as head coach. It is truly my calling to make an impact through the game that I love, in the community I love. I am here because of the coaches who poured into me during my own journey. Their guidance and belief in me laid the foundation for the leader I am today, and I am honored to carry their lessons forward.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Hampton and Dr. Tate for their years of mentorship, ongoing trust, and for the opportunity to serve our student-athletes. I am also incredibly grateful to AD Coach DeBusk for his leadership and for maintaining a standard of excellence that I am eager to uphold.
“To the place and people that I call ‘home,’ Kingsport, thank you for your unwavering support. I am ready to get to work and continue the proud tradition of excellence that defines us. Roll Tribe!”
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