By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Cara Crosslin hails from Tuscumbia, where she was blessed with family who believed in hard work and education.

Mom, Keb, was a school teacher and dad, Tommy, was the probate judge of Colbert County for 32 years.

Both of her parents, grandparents and brother, Thomas, are graduates of the University of Alabama.

In May 1993, Crosslin graduated high school and immediately went to the University of Alabama as a walk-on in basketball. The UA women’s basketball team lost a young coach to a brain aneurysm, but the team, as a way to honor their fallen coach, came together for an unbelievable 1994 season. The team went to the SEC Tournament, the NCAA and all the way to the Final Four.

“It was so awesome to be a part of all that as a freshman,” said Crosslin. She received her scholarship the next year as a sophomore. That tournament and family trips stand out as special memories.

Crosslin has been at Thompson for nine years now. As a coach, mentor and teacher, she tries to instill a sense of priority to her students — namely God, family, education, then friends and sports.

The team’s motto may sound familiar to basketball fans. It is “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Crosslin has a go-getter attitude, works hard and expects no less from her kids.

“I also teach adaptive PE for special ed students, aerobics and athletics. I love almost any kind of music, Alabama football, tailgating with family and friends and seeing new places,” Crosslin said. “I was fortunate enough to be in New Orleans for the 2011 National Championship game, but had a conflict and could not attend this year’s game.”

The family story is that as a baby, her mom kept prompting her to say “Roll Tide.” Her first words came out “Ole ide,” and set the tone for her lifelong allegiance to Alabama.

As athletic director at Thompson High School and head coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team, Crosslin is a very busy lady.

Community columnist Sandra Thames can be reached  by e–mail at bobthames1942@yahoo.com.