Coach blends basketball and medicine

Dr. Tamayra Rogers experienced a basketball coach’s pinnacle of success in her first year as the mentor of the Tuba City Lady Warriors. She saw her charges fashion a 27-5 record, an Enchantment Region Championship and an Arizona State 3A Girls Basketball Championship all in her initial coaching experience at any level.

Most who devote their entire lives to coaching never enjoy such success. Rogers did it while pursing the demanding career of practicing medicine at the Tuba City Indian Health Center. She is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Services Center at San Antonio and was the chief resident at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Oklahoma City before coming to Tuba City.

Rogers enjoyed success in her playing days at Barbers Hill High School (Texas) where she was a key member of two state championship teams. She played her college ball at the University of Oklahoma (1985-1900). Winning a Big Eight Championship with the Sooners ranks as one of her favorite sports memories.

While coaching high school basketball and practicing medicine both would appear to be full time, demanding careers; Rogers sees them as complementing each other. She said that coaching gives her an outlet and the opportunity to work with the younger generation.

“Both coaching and medicine involve a lot of teaching,” she said. “As a doctor, you need to teach your patients to modify their behavior in order to improve their health. As a coach, you must teach the players to modify their behavior in order to play better.” She added that both require a lot of patience.

Rogers said that while winning the state championship was exciting, her best moments in coaching come when she can see her players finally understand what she has been trying to teach them and put it into practice. She had that pleasure last season and expects to have it again every year, probably numerous times each year.

Tuba City fans will be happy to learn that Rogers is quite happy with her life in that community. She said that see feels that she has “found her home there.”

She also said that she is thankful for the matchless, devoted fans that follow and root for the Lady Warriors. She is grateful to have cooperative parents and talented, dedicated assistant coaches. Rogers is assisted by Raye Lynn McCabe, Pearle Yellowmen and Genevieve Begaye.

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