After more than three decades (nine of which at Eureka Junior/Senior High School [EJSHS]) of shaping lives on and off the basketball court and in the classroom, Hall of Fame coach Shelly Hoyt announced her retirement on Tuesday, April 7.
Hoyt, who built powerhouse programs at Hoxie and Eureka, leaves the game with an extraordinary resume that includes more than 600 career victories. She recently surpassed that milestone while leading Eureka and finished with an overall high school varsity record of 639-173, along with a remarkable 214-28 record at the junior high level.
Among her many achievements, Hoyt is perhaps best known for guiding Hoxie to a then-state record 107 consecutive wins between December 2011 and January 2016, an accomplishment that cemented her legacy as one of the state’s all-time greats. In recognition of her success and impact, she was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 2025.
Reflecting on her 36 years in coaching, Hoyt said the memories are too numerous to count. “Of course, the state championships stand out,” she said, “but just as meaningful are the firsts for each school, like making it to state for the first time at Utica and Eureka. And this year, placing at state was special.” Coach Hoyt capped off her career with a third-place finish at the 2A State Tournament in Emporia, a first state finish for the Lady Tornadoes.
She also highlighted the personal moments that defined her journey, including coaching her daughters, something she says she will “always cherish.”
Basketball, Hoyt explained, has been far more than a sport in her life. “It’s truly been a way of life,” she said. “It helped pull me “out of the mud,” (as my girls would say), and gave me purpose and directiongiving me a reason to go to college. Basketball gave me a platform, not only to share my love for Jesus and His goodness, but to empower young ladies.”
Hoyt’s coaching legacy extends beyond Kansas. Her daughters, Jacie and Terran, are continuing the family tradition at Oklahoma State, where Jacie servesasheadwomen’sbasketball coach and Terran is an assistant on her staff.
Her husband, Scott Hoyt, superintendent of Eureka USD 389, also recently announced his retirement. “We have a close family, but honestly, the game brought us even closer, so many of our memories, our conversations, our lives have been centered around basketball,” she stated. “It’s also taken me places I never imagined I’d go, places like Italy, Greece, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and al l across the country. But at the end of the day, it’s the people, the relationships, the players that become lifetime friends that mean the most to me.”
In addition to her coaching duties, Hoyt served as a special education teacher and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) advisor during her time at EJSHS, further impacting students beyond athletics.
“In the classroom, I had the privilege of teaching special education. With the help of some amazing paraprofessionals, we worked to create a safe place where students could struggle, grow, and succeed, while still being held to high expectations and given the support they needed to reach them,” she said.
“At the end of the day, the goal wasn’t just progress on paper; it was helping them walk out of the classroom believing they could do hard things,” Hoyt continued.
Her resi gnation was scheduled to be presented to the Eureka USD 389 Board of Education on Monday, April 13. It is believed that assistant coach Brendan Ptacek will be approved during the meeting to step into the head coaching role, while Hoyt’s granddaughter, Ptacek’s daughter, Cady Ptacek is expected to move into an assistant coaching position. Press deadline occurred prior to the meeting, and additional details from the monthly school board session will be included in next week’s edition.
As she steps away from coaching, Hoyt looks forward to a slower pace of life, with more time spent traveling and enjoying her family. “I’m really looking forward to spending more time with our girls and their families, and traveling to see our extended family,” she said. “I will stay busy, but I’m ready for a slower pace and the ability to do things on my own time.”
While she is retiring from coaching, Hoyt’s influence will continue through the many athletes and programs she has impacted. Her longtime “Be Your Best” basketball camp will continue under new leadership, carrying on a tradition she began years ago in Utica. Additional information will be included in a future edition.
In a heartfelt message shared publicly, Hoyt expressed gratitude for everyone who was part of her journey.
“Basketball was never just a game—it was a platform to build relationships, grow in faith, and help young ladies see what is inside of them,” she wrote. “This chapter may be closing, but the relationships and memories will last forever.”
(Courtesy photo)
