Official Athletics Website of UMS-Wright Preparatory School

Coach Terry Canova enters his 19 th season as the Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach. Coach
Canova is in the Elementary P.E. Department and is an Assistant Cross Country Coach.
A 1985 graduate of John Ehret High School in the New Orleans Area. Coach Canova served in
the U.S. Army and the Louisiana National Guard before attending Louisiana Tech University,
where he received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physical Education. Canova also received a
Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Alabama.

After two seasons as an assistant coach at Ruston High School (LA) and Sibley High School (LA).
Coach Canova was hired as the boys basketball coach at Catholic High in New Iberia, LA. The
following season Canova was asked to coach both teams, and help elevate the girl’s program.
In a very short time both teams became highly regarded in South Louisiana. The girls program
made one of the biggest improvements in the entire state of Louisiana. Prior to Coach Canova
coming to Catholic High they had never won more than 4 games in a season, by his third year
they had back to back 20 win season’s and playoff appearances.

Canova then entered the college coaching ranks where he spent 8 seasons at three different
schools. Canova was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Nicholls State University
(1998-2000), University of Louisiana at Monroe (2000-2003), and the University of South
Alabama (2003-2006). All three programs reached unprecedented success while he was on the
staffs there. Women’s Basketball “Hoops Scoops” once listed Coach Canova as one of the top
assistants in the country.

Canova is now beginning his 19th season at UMS-Wright. Over the past 18 years UMS-Wright
has been one of the most consistent and successful women’s programs in the Gulf Coast
Region. Over the past fourteen seasons the Lady Bulldogs have reached the Sweet Sixteen, on
12 occasions, a feat unmatched by anyone in South Alabama. During that fourteen year span
the Lady Bulldogs have also reached the Elite Eight on 9 occasions – including 3 Final Four
appearances.

Canova reached his 400th win milestone at UMS-Wright this season. The Alabama High School
Athletic Association has him ranked with the 10th most wins “All Time” in Alabama Women’s
Basketball Coaching History among active coaches, with 453 total girl’s basketball wins. He also
reached the 500th win milestone this season which includes his four years as a boy’s coach.

Coach Canova and his wife Kimberley have been married for 12 years. Together they have 5
children - Scarlett, Christen, Alyssa, Sophie, and Hayden. Honey and Pop also have one
grandson – Nate. Kimberley works in freelance acting and voice work, and she runs their Home
Based Travel Agency – Toes in the Sand Travel. Together they are a part of the Bay Cities
Stories Company where they participate in the Murder Mysteries on the Perdido Queen.