DAVENPORT, Fla. — It’s easy for Coach Nikki King to move about the basketball court. Because this is her happy place.

The court is where it all began for her.

What You Need To Know

  •  Nikki King is the head coach of the varsity girls basketball team at Ridge Community High School

  •  Coach King grew up on the basketball courts of Polk County. She starred on the court at Haines City High
  •  She also makes a difference in the classroom where she teaches Business Marketing

And now she’s imparting her wisdom on a very young Ridge Community High School team.

“The team is practically new, and it’s like them getting together really quickly and the chemistry is what I’m most proud of,” Coach King said.

This Polk County native grew up on the court, first at Haines City High School and then Robert Morris and Webber International universities. After her playing career ended, she naturally gravitated back to high school basketball.

“It’s been my life,” she said. “For nine seasons here at Ridge, I’ve been truly committed to this program, to these girls, and I’ve been enjoying it.”

She’s also blazing a trail at Ridge Community. She is the lone female African American coach on staff and takes a lot of pride in that knowing that she is setting a tone for others.

“My father used to tell me stories of picking fruit here, picking oranges on this same property,” she said. “So it means something to me because all his hard work was so I didn’t have to do that.”

Coach King is also making a difference in the classroom. She teaches business marketing. She’s lighting a spark in their young entrepreneurial minds. This semester, the students are learning about sports branding, something Coach King is very familiar with.

“Just pulling out their potential. Like, what do they want to be when they grow up,” she said. “Cause I don’t really remember that part of my childhood. So just being that person that can pull that out of them.”

Coach King is big on planting seeds. And seeing how her students and her players grow.

“I want them to be the best people they can be after sports, after high school, after college,” Coach King said. “And whatever they do, just know that I’m here for them forever.”