Anthony Byrd
Amy Dodd Calhoun
Scott Campbell
Roy Cooper
Andie Cozzarelli
Lisa Cobb Leslie
Jim Mills
Joe Mills
Ricky Olive
Eileen Duley Patrick
Ed Tindal
James Eddie “J.E.” Wilson
ANTHONY BYRD
CLASS OF 1980
Anthony was one of the greatest men’s basketball players in Apex history. A prolific scorer, he played on the varsity team for four years and averaged almost 20 points a game during his senior year. He was All-Conference as a player and was selected as the Conference Player of the Year during his senior season. At the time of his graduation in 1980, Anthony was the leading scorer in Apex history.
After spending one year at Brevard Junior College, Anthony signed to play at Georgia Tech as part of Coach Bobby Cremins’ first recruiting class. He was Tech’s 6th man all three years and, along with players such as Mark Price and John Salley, helped create the culture that established the “Thrillerdome” in Atlanta. During his sophomore season at Georgia Tech, Anthony scored 18 points against UNC, prompting Coach Dean Smith to comment that “we probably should have recruited him a little harder.” Despite an opportunity to play basketball overseas after his graduation, Anthony opted to return home and start his career as a teacher and coach. He has been at Knightdale High School for the past 13 years and is currently the head boys basketball coach.
AMY DODD CALHOUN
CLASS OF 2007
Amy was a standout basketball and soccer player while at Apex High School. When she graduated in 2007, Amy had garnered All-Conference honors during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons in both sports. She led the basketball team into the state finals during her junior year and was captain of the soccer team when they won the state championship during her senior season.
She was chosen as the Conference Player of the Year in basketball during her senior season and was selected by the News and Observer as the Female Athlete of the Year in 2007 as well. She was also chosen to play in the East-West All Star game in 2007 and finished her career as the all-time career scoring leader in women’s basketball, with over 1,500 points. During Amy’s four years playing basketball and soccer at Apex High School, those two teams combined to win over 175 games. Amy played collegiately for four years at High Point University, where she was a part-time starter during her career.
Scott Campbell
COACH 1984-2011
Scott served as the women’s basketball coach at Apex High School from 1989 until 2011. Upon his retirement from Apex, he had coached his teams to 377 wins at Apex and 462 wins overall during his career. His teams were among the most consistent and respected teams in North Carolina during his tenure, as they won five conference championships, made the state playoffs 19 times, won six Sectional or Regional championships, and reached the state finals in 2007. He was voted as Coach of the Year six times during his stint at Apex High School and served as both the head coach of the East team in the 1998 East-West All Star game, and as an assistant coach in the 2007 North Carolina/South Carolina All Star Classic. Scott received the Raleigh Sports Club Distinguished Service award in 2014 and was recognized by the WBCA for his 100th, 200th, 300th, and 400th career wins.
Finally, in a memorable tribute to the relationships that he built, at least 11 of Scott’s former basketball players have gone on to careers in coaching at some level, including current Apex High School coaches Dana Higgins Ivy and Charli Michael. He also coached current Hall of Famers Ginnell Curtis and Amy Dodd, both of whom became coaches as well.
roy cooper
COACH 1984-PRESENT
Roy came to Apex High School in 1984 when he was hired to teach and serve as the athletic director. He served as an assistant coach with the girls basketball team and as the coach of the first girls soccer team that year as well.
He took over as the head coach of girls and boys cross country and track and field teams in the fall of 1985, positions he continues to hold to this day. His teams have posted a combined overall record of 1157-320-1, with 50 conference championships and 62 top 10 state finishes for the past 35 years. During his tenure as coach, Apex athletes or teams have made the state championships in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track and field in 100 consecutive seasons (this streak started in 1986). He has served as a regional or state meet director for the NCHSAA on 30 different occasions and has been the meet director of the Apex Lions’ Relays for the past 35 years. Roy has also worked at the national high school outdoor track and field championships for the past 20 years and at the national high school cross country championships for the past 15 years. In 2018, Cooper was one of two winners of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Toby Webb coach of the year award.
Andie Cozzarelli
CLASS OF 2008
Andie, a 2008 graduate of Apex High School, was an outstanding distance runner and soccer player during her career there. She was named All-Conference in cross country and track and field eight times during her high school career and was the Runner of the Year four times in the two sports combined. She established school records in the indoor and outdoor 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs, records that still stand today. She won five individual state championships in indoor and outdoor track and field, and was the state runner up in cross country four times. Andie competed on both the soccer and track and field teams all four springs of her years at Apex.
Even though she only ran in about half of the track and field meets during her career, she remains the sixth best all-time scorer in Apex track and field history. In addition, in the span of eight days during her junior year, Andie won two individual state championships in track and field and then played a strong role in assisting the girls soccer team when they won the 2007 state championship. She also won the first marathon she ever participated in. Andie continued her running career at N.C. State University and earned multiple All ACC and All American honors in cross country and track and field. In addition, she qualified for and ran in the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials in the marathon. Andie is now a founder and athlete on the Raleigh Distance Project, an elite women’s running team based in Raleigh. She also become a coach for the Pursuit, which is a community-based team created as a collaboration between the Raleigh Distance Project and Runologie.
liSA COBB LESLIE
CLASS OF 1981
Lisa was one of the first stellar women’s basketball players at Apex High School. During her four varsity seasons, she became a dominant force inside as a scorer and rebounder. Her career highlight came when playing back-to-back nights — Lisa scored 37 points one night and 39 points the next night to lead Apex to two critical wins. She was the leading scorer and rebounder for Apex throughout her career and was chosen as the team MVP for all 4 seasons. Lisa was selected to the All-Conference and All Metro teams during each of her final three seasons and led Apex into the state playoffs each of those years.
Lisa continued her playing career at St. Augustine’s college. She continued to have an impact on the basketball community as two of her children, C.J. Leslie and Kiara Leslie, starred at N.C. State University.
jim mills
CLASS OF 1938
Jim graduated in the Class of 1938 as a three-sport athlete and, with his twin brother Joe, led Apex into the state playoffs in football and to the Class B state championship basketball game in 1938. He then played football, basketball, and baseball at N.C. State until 1940, whereupon he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and served for the duration of World War II. After the conclusion of the war, Jim went on to have a distinguished career as a player, manager, and general manager in minor league baseball. He was perhaps best known as an umpire and basketball official in the ACC during the 1950s and 1960s. He served as President of the Carolina League from 1977-1983, during which time he helped resurrect the Durham Bulls baseball franchise. Jim was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and, two years later, was inducted along with his brother Joe into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
joe mills
CLASS OF 1938
Joe, who was Jim’s twin brother, also graduated in 1938 as a three-sport athlete. He, too, was instrumental in leading Apex into the state playoffs in football and to the Class B state championship basketball game in 1938. He also played football, basketball, and baseball at N.C. State until 1940, whereupon he was drafted as well into the U.S. Army Air Corps and served for the duration of World War II. After the war, Joe went on to a brief career in minor league baseball. Joe also coached and officiated all three sports at many levels, including working as an umpire and basketball official in the high school and college ranks. He served for 20 years as an ACC basketball official and for 33 years as an ACC baseball umpire. Jim and Joe Mills officiated over 1,200 basketball and football games together over the years. In 1984, Joe was given the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award by Governor Jim Hunt, the highest civilian honor that can be given to a citizen of North Carolina. He was also inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 1999 along with his brother Jim.
ricky olive
CLASS OF 1976
Ricky was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball at Apex High School. He achieved All-Conference honors in all three sports and was named to the All Metro football team during his senior season. Ricky graduated from Apex High School in 1976 and was chosen to play in the East-West All Star game that same year.
Originally signed by Coach Lou Holtz, Ricky started his collegiate career as a tight end at N.C. State. An injury during the second game of the season caused him to red shirt that season and, in his own words, he “went into the weight room as a 195 pound tight end and came out a 265 pound right offensive tackle. He started on N.C. State’s Peach Bowl team that year, but left N.C. State after the passing of his father in order to take over the family farm. Coach Ed Emory talked him back into football and Ricky finished his career at Georgia Tech. He was shifted to the defensive line at Georgia Tech where he started and anchored a formidable defensive front for his final three seasons. Upon his graduation from Georgia Tech, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and became one of the few players in Apex history to ever play in the NFL.
EILEEN DULEY PATRICK
CLASS OF 1992
Eileen was a two-sport athlete at Apex High School as a member of the swimming and diving team and the softball team. Though she had a great love for softball, it was in the pool where she made her name and fame. Eileen won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association all classification state championship in diving all four years while she was a Cougar and, in so doing, became the only four-time state champion in one event in Apex history. By winning the 1-meter diving championship her senior year, Eileen established a state record score of 405.95 points at that time. Eileen helped lead Apex High School to conference championships in swimming and diving during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.
In 1991 during her junior year, Eileen scored critical points to help lead Apex to the NCHSAA state swimming and diving team championship. This was the first team state championship in Apex history and was the final year in which the NCHSAA held an all-classification championship. Eileen continued her career at N.C. State, where she was named All-Conference during her freshman year and was named team MVP during her senior year.
ED TINDAL
CLASS OF 1964
Ed was a four-sport letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field at Apex High School. After getting his degree from Campbell University, Ed began a highly successful coaching career at several schools until he returned to Apex High School in 1977 as the head coach of the cross country and track and field teams. During this time, Ed was named Coach of the Year when his boys track and field team won the conference championship in 1979. He also helped to start the highly regarded Apex Lions’ Relays in 1978.
Ed left Apex for one year, but returned to serve as the athletic director, head football coach, and head boys and girls track and field coach at Apex Middle School. In that capacity, Ed coached four undefeated conference champion football teams and 12 undefeated conference champion boys and girls track and field teams.
In 1993, Ed came home to Apex High School in his final capacity, as he became the athletic director. In this time, Ed became one of the most highly regarded athletic administrators in the state. He recruited many outstanding coaches to Apex and worked closely to build the Cougar Club into one of the top booster club organizations in the state. In addition, Ed oversaw massive renovation and expansion projects to help create the outstanding athletic facilities the Cougars enjoy today. In 2006, his final year at Apex, he fittingly was named as the North Carolina Athletic Director of the Year.
JAMES EDDIE “J.E.” WILSON
CLASS OF 1962
James was an outstanding basketball and baseball player at Apex Consolidated High School from 1959 until 1962. At a time when many African-American athletes attended high school at Ligon High School in Raleigh, James’ love and passion for his community in Friendship encouraged him to stay at Apex Consolidated. After graduation, James attended Shaw University, where he was named an All-Conference athlete three times as an outfielder and first baseman on the baseball team.
James spent two years as a teacher and coach in South Korea before he moved to Charlotte, the city he now calls home. He went on to become an outstanding baseball umpire for 11 years, but it was as a basketball official that he truly made his mark. James has served as an outstanding basketball official in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association from 1975 to the present. James’ excellence was recognized in 1996 when he was inducted into the Shaw University Hall of Fame. He has officiated the state championship game on eight separate occasions. The NCHSAA presented him with the Gold Whistle Distinguished Service award in 2000 and he officiated the East-West All Star game in 2014.