Katy McDonald
Senior #14

Eden Oates
Senior #22

Leah Oubre
Senior #3

Assistant Coach
Ellen Hicks

Ellen Hicks is entering her 1st year as part of the Lady Eagles coaching staff as an IHS alum. She recently graduated from Centre College in 2021 where she played four years of collegiate basketball. Her senior year she received All Conference, All Tournament, and All SAA academic honors.

She received her Bachelors Degree in Economics and Finance and currently works as a Loan Officer.

Prior to Centre, she graduated from Independence High School in 2017 where she played four years of basketball. She earned All District honors her senior year. She also volunteers as an AAU coach in the spring and summer seasons. She is very excited to be back involved with basketball at her high school alma mater.

Head Coach
Tony Hill

Coach Hill enters his second year at Independence and brings with him over 20 years of coaching experience both at the high school and college levels. He is also no stranger to Williamson County Schools. He led the resurgence of the girls basketball program at Centennial High School from 2013-2017. During his tenure at CHS the team set several program records including most wins in a season, best record for a season and finished in the top 20 in the state in defensive average (37.3ppg) in 2016. In 2017 Hill’s Centennial team came within a basket of a Sectional championship and a trip to the TSSAA State Tournament.

The Indiana native came to Tennessee to lead, NAIA women’s basketball powerhouse, Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. His team reached a national ranking and a bid to the NAIA National Tournament in 2010. Additionally, Hill received Conference Coach of the Year in 2010.

Coach Hill earned his Bachelors Degree from Indiana University and his Masters Degree from Bethel University.

Assistant Coach
Payton Grove

Coach Payton Grove is entering her second year as the assistant basketball and softball coach at Independence High School. She previously served as the head softball coach and assistant girls basketball coach at Burns Middle School for the last two years. A Dickson County native, she graduated from Dickson County High School in 2015 where she lettered in three sports: softball, basketball, and soccer. Her accomplishments include selection as an all-district and all-region athlete in all 3 sports, as well as all-mid-state selection in soccer. Grove was a part of a very successful softball program, winning a state championship in 2014 and runner-up in 2013 and 2015. In her senior year of high school, the girls basketball program held a record of 32-3, ending their season with a state tournament appearance. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Payton currently teaches Lifetime Wellness at Independence.