WEATHERFORD —
When Richard Scoggin, Weatherford ISD’s Executive Director of Athletics took the reins in May, he wanted to make sure he had plenty of time to assure coaching staffs were to capacity by the time the 2012-13 school year began. And actually even before that, with football, volleyball and a couple of other sports starting before classes.
“When [the position here at Weatherford worked out] I could have told them ‘No, I need to stay here and finish out the school year,’” said Scoggin, who left a Superintendant’s position at Oakwood ISD, “but I wanted to get in here as soon as I could.
“If I did not get in here in May, some staff could disappear in June, and it’s hard enough to meet [all the requirements] in May. Waiting until June would have been even tougher.”
And Scoggin didn’t come alone in May. His 14-year-old son attended Hall Middle School for the balance of the school year, as well. Both liked what they saw.
With the head start of at least a month, Scoggin offers that he may not have known all the names by June, but he certainly has learned the faces. He has met with all of the head coaches and is getting through the process soon of sit downs with the assistants.
But the inevitable happens, and stepping right into the role, Scoggin has been about the business of replacing (mercifully) few coaches.
Natalie Wayman will step into the head coaching job for the Lady Roos varsity volleyball team, marking the second coach for the WHS girls in as many years. Coming to Weatherford after heading the program at Canton ISD, Scoggin is impressed with the energy level of the new head coach.
“Natalie is a high-energy person and very knowledgeable, as well,” he said of the new volleyball coach. “She is very excited and she has a plan for the program and is resolved to stick to that plan.”
Wayman is a 2009 graduate of Texas Wesleyan, and spent college years teaching select volleyball prior to her stint at Canton.
Scoggin spoke to the volleyball team before school let out for the summer, letting them know that their 13-13 record from 2011 was a good start, and that when the bus leaves to go to the playoffs, he wants to make sure Weatherford is on that bus.
“Our goal is to go to the playoffs,” said Scoggin. “In every sport.”
“We want to compete and advance, but we have to get to the playoffs first.”
After helping to build the Weatherford wrestling program for several years, coach Eric Doby leaves the head coaching slot, and former assistant, now head wrestling coach Reed Sanders steps in to further elevate the program.
“After speaking to Reed in some length, I know he expects the same things out of the wrestling program as I do out of all of our programs,” Scoggin said. “We’ve had some good individual success and we really want to take it to the next level and have team success.”
Weatherford also moves up another assistant coach after a long tenure with a former head coach. Keeley McLarty will take over the reins of the Roo tennis program, filling the slot vacated by Matt Rhidenhour who, with his wife have taken positions in Rio Vista.
“With both of the assistants we have moved into the head coaching jobs,” Scoggin said, “I really felt confident both of them are very capable of taking on the head coach spots.
“We’re asking for commitment, from the coaches and the kids, and just like with my own job, there are a lot of expectations. And that’s fine. That’s how it should be.”
Other changes in the coaching staff include Anthony Sowe, who has moved to the varsity football staff from the ninth-grade staff.
Lee Geffert will step in to coach ninth-grade football and will also assist Terry Massey as one of the assistant baseball coaches.
Jeff Gmitro, who will coach football and track, comes to Weatherford from Brewer High School.
And Kristiana Webb, a teacher at Tison during the last school year, has been moved into a basketball coaching position, as well as another assistant slot.
Weatherford’s AD feels good about the personnel put in place for the coming year.
Scoggin believes the expectations of the Weatherford community are the very same that he has of himself.
“If we accomplish what I’ve set as goals, and we accomplish what the community wants to achieve, we’ll have a good thing going on.”
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