06/26/2026
The O'Connell Center fell silent. Seconds left. A 52-52 tie. Then Nina Richards sank two clutch free throws, and Coach Kelly Rae Finley did something Wilmer Nichols had never seen before. She cried. ๐
For Wilmer, a longtime UF professor and devoted Gator fan, meeting Kelly Rae transformed the way he experienced women's basketball. What began with a chance encounter in the Town of Tioga grew into a meaningful friendship. ๐
The Town of Tioga is proud to celebrate Coach Kelly Rae and the impact she made on and off the court. All of her Tioga neighbors are rooting for her and wishing her the very best as she begins an exciting new chapter. ๐