Candace Byrd

Bio

Candace Byrd enters her fourth season as head coach of the Calhoun women’s basketball program, having guided the Warhawks to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Tournament in each of her first three years. In 2025, she led Calhoun to an 18-13 overall record and a 9-6 mark in conference play, finishing third in the ACCC and advancing to the tournament semifinals.

In her second season at the helm, Byrd’s squad posted a 17-13 overall record and finished third in the ACCC standings once again, highlighted by sophomore Kennedi Hawkins earning both ACCC and NJCAA All-American honors. Her debut season saw the Warhawks go 17-12 overall and 13-6 in conference play, with another run to the conference semifinals. Byrd was named ACCC North Division Coach of the Year following that 2023 campaign.

Prior to joining Calhoun, Byrd made her mark at R.A. Hubbard High School, where she led the girls basketball team to a Class 1A State Championship in 2017. That season, she was honored as the AHSAA 1A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, the Decatur Daily Class 1A-3A Small School Coach of the Year, and selected as an assistant coach for the AHSAA North/South All-Star Game. In 2018, she was inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame for her impact on the game as both a coach and player.

Byrd’s playing career began at Tanner High School, where she dominated the state scene from 1997 to 2000. She was a five-time All-County selection, four-time All-State honoree, 2A Player of the Year, and Decatur Daily Player of the Year. Averaging 21.3 points and 14.2 rebounds per game, she totaled 2,795 points and a state-record 2,065 rebounds, a mark that still stands today. Byrd also competed in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game and is credited with helping raise the profile of girls basketball in the Tennessee Valley.

She was a member of the inaugural women’s basketball team at Birmingham-Southern College, where she played from 2000–2005 and earned her bachelor’s degree in education. Byrd later completed a master’s in educational leadership from Grand Canyon University.

A native of Tanner, Alabama, Byrd is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is active in her church, Grace Missionary Baptist.

Updated 07/2025