A new direction for DHS soccer
Board tabs Williams as coach
Michael Pineda The Duncan Banner
Throughout the past four years, Marcus Williams has gotten a good look at Duncan soccer on the opposing sidelines of Lawton High and Lawton Mac. Apparently, he liked what he saw. Williams was hired as the boys’ soccer coach by the school board Tuesday night. In accepting the position, he will become the second head coach in the short history of the program. Danny David served as head coach for four years before resigning this spring. “They have a lot of potential,” Williams said of Duncan. “When Lawton Mac played them, they should have won. And even though they lost to Lawton High 7-0, there coach told me they could have won. Duncan has a good team, but they were mentally weak at times and were unorganized.”
Williams has extensive experience in the sport, having played the game since he was five years old. As a high school athlete at Lawton Mac, Williams was named All-District and All-State and went on to play for the Drovers for whom he earned All-Conference honors. He takes over the program wanting to exploit its capabilities to the fullest. And to do so, he wants to build the system from the bottom up. “If you have a good youth system, it makes it easier to build a program,” Williams said. “I want to start a club system like they have in Oklahoma City. The kids play for the Chisholm Trail Soccer Association until they reach seventh grade and then they stop.” While Williams likes to coach an attacking style, he will tailor the Demon attack to fit its personnel and will start the year with an emphasis on improving individual skills. In taking the job, Williams appreciates the task in front of him and visualizes the success that the program can have. “I like where I’m at now and I just like the town of Duncan,” Williams said. “I wanted to stay at Mac but a friend told me both jobs were open at Duncan and I put my resume in. It seems like there is more support for the soccer team. “It’s more involved and I like the fact that there is only one school. I want to try to build it up. The program has the potential to be district champions and state champions. The game plan is to be here as long as possible.”
Williams is married to Tara Williams and has one son, Alex. He will begin to set the foundation for his program in August when he holds a soccer camp at the Simmons Center. The date for the camp will be Aug. 3-6.
DHS Hires Girls’ Soccer Coach
Delydia Gay to take over program
Michael Pineda of The Duncan Banner
Delydia Gay has been passionate about soccer throughout her playing and professional career. Now she will share her passion with Duncan. Gay was hired to take over the Duncan Lady Demon soccer program in a school board meeting Thursday night. Gay, who served as the head coach of the Guymon program, will take the place of Monica Smith who resigned in the spring. Gay will teach elementary physical education.
Gay took over the Guymon program after graduating at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where she received All-Conference, All-Region and honorable mention All-American honors as a goaltender. While at Guymon, Gay also coached cross country and junior high girls basketball. “I’m excited, I really am,” Gay said. “I know it will be a challenge but I’m young and I can handle it. I got a great opportunity at Guymon and I enjoyed the last two years. But Duncan is a great opportunity for me. I know some people that moved from Woodward and they say it’s a really nice, clean town. I have a one-year-old daughter and it will be a good place for me to settle down.”
Gay will take over a Lady Demon team that is in a building stage after posting one win last season. Rather than promise a quick fix, she promises hard work based on the fundamentals of the game for a program that boasts strong numbers. “They were talking to me about how many girls are out for soccer there,” Gay said. “There is a lot of support and that makes me excited. The girls want to play. “The last two years in Guymon have been a challenge, similar to Duncan. You just have to start with the basics and build off them.. From there, you can get better. You have to simplify the game and they will help them understand it better.” At Guymon, Gay ran a 3-5-2 but will judge her personnel before deciding on a system for Duncan. With her background as a goaltender, Gay’s strength lies on the defensive side but has the knowledge on the offensive side of the ball. “With winning comes enthusiasm from the players and I can get some excitement in there,” Gay said.
The interviews for both boys’ and girls’ head coaching positions began on Monday. While a boys coach has not been hired, there is a tentative plan according to Duncan Superintendent Dr. Sherry Labyer, who was excited about adding Gay to the Duncan athletic program. “She was confident, enthusiastic and eager to build a program,” Labyer said. “She played soccer in college and has served as a head coach, she knows the game.”
The Duncan High School Booster Club would like to welcome all athletes, coaches, parents, and school administration to the 2009 season. Thank you in advance for your support during the upcoming soccer season. Our primary goal is to support the players, the coaching staff, and the school administration here at Duncan High School in having a successful and fun soccer program.
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