This year, two Pace alumni have returned to coach sports: Morgan Batey and George Adams. Batey returned to coach girls’ high school basketball and middle school softball. Adams returned as an assistant coach for the high school Cross-Country team and middle school basketball.
Coach Batey is a 2012 Pace Alum, and was on a State Runner-up Basketball team her junior year. She described her time on the Pace basketball team as very “close-knit.” She also played softball her senior season. “My time at Pace shaped who I am, both on and off the court,” Batey said. After Batey’s time at Pace, she went on to play basketball at theVanderbilt University, earning a degree in Public health. During her time at Vanderbilt, she played 125 games and started in 64, finishing with nearly 1,000 points. This past year, she played overseas in Israel as a small forward. She has also played in the Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Portugal, and Romania. Returning to Pace this year, she described the difference between Pace in 2012 and Pace in 2026 as having more “focus and intent on athletics.”
There are enough new things to keep her excited and enough old things to keep her comfortable. “It’s weird that I’m on the other side,” Batey said, referring to her transition from student to staff member. In addition to coaching softball and basketball, Batey is also the sports information manager.
George Adams is a 2020 Pace alum and holds the state record in the 800 meters and was also a notable varsity basketball player. He returned to Pace this year to assist in coaching the two sports he focused on at Pace: running and basketball. Adams described himself as more on the “crazy side” as a student, but coaches Jolie Cunningham and Sharman White really shaped him into who he has become. Adams is honored to now work beside them in the cross country and basketball departments. Adams recalled one time when he was caught walking in the woods during a cross country practice and faced the consequences from Coach Cunningham, and he says he is now the one yelling at kids walking. “Karma” is what Cunnigham called it. After his time at Pace, Adams went off to run at the University of Pennsylvania, where he had a great experience and made lifelong friends. He loved his time there and decided to return to Pace because of how amazing the community is. “Some coaches make you stay,” Adams said when describing Coach Cunningham and Coach Sharmin White.
Adams also described the 2012 pep rally, when he was in the lower school and Batey was a senior on the basketball team. He still recalls Batey signing his shirt and remembers her as the “best shooter and the coolest girl in the school.” This moment captures the special and united Pace athletics community. The two now both play Pace pick-up basketball (PAPUBA) on Fridays