Pioneer Alumni Pins Down Position as Head Coach
Wrestling team sees changes for the coaching staff for the new season.
By Liam Corcoran
Wrestling team sees changes for the coaching staff for the new season.
By Liam Corcoran
This year’s wrestling season is seeing new leadership after introducing a new head coach to join assistant coach Travis Murdock for the 2023-24 season.
New head coach James Coats has a mindset of helping others achieve their goal and pushing people to their full capabilities. Coats’ first games coaching at Pioneer, the first of the season, is on Dec. 1 for JV and the second of the season is on Dec. 2 for varsity.
Coats has some history with the school being a former Mustang himself, and he hopes that it can help him coach this team.
“I’ve been a wrestler since 2000 but I’ve been coaching since 2017, but as a wrestler you're kind of always coaching. Coaching is part of wrestling as you teach people a move and teach how to work on the mat, coaching as you wrestle,” said Coats.
That experience will help him get the most out of his wrestlers, a common goal between both coaches.
“I am expecting my athletes to enjoy themselves and grow as student-athletes,” said Murdock. “My goals for the season are to just turn everyone into a better version of themselves.”
Coats is also expecting a lot of his wrestlers this season, he is hoping that the team will follow his expectations.
“Currently this season I expect us to do our best, to maintain good grades, to get a good sense of wrestling and also to be a part of the school sports system and academics,” said Coats.
Kimphu Nguyen, 10, feels excited for the upcoming season and getting to work with the new coach.
“I’m just excited to get to know everybody and just get to know the coach a little better and see what type (of wrestling) he teaches,” said Nguyen.
Senior Nick Kimber is excited for the season with his new head coach and fellow wrestlers.
“I’m most excited for the new experiences we can have and the more fun we can have,” said Kimber.
Murdoch has a very big goal for the team this season, hoping the team can reach the final tournaments.
“I’m excited to see if we can make it to the league finals or CCS. I’d like to invite everyone to come watch this year and support our team,” said Murdoch.
Other wrestlers like Chase Chisholm, 10, thinks that the new leadership will be a positive thing.
“The different coaches aren’t really that big of a deal but I’m expecting kind of a shift in how things operate considering all the new wrestlers,” said ChishoIm. “I like that the new head coach has brought a fresh perspective and a lot of new ideas.”
Coats is hoping to help other students at Pioneer to reach their full potential by using the sport of wrestling.
“Wrestling is an awesome sport. It’s helped me reach the height of my goals that I set for myself and in my life and the dedication has taught me never to quit, and I hope this can teach other students at Pioneer the same and so they can reach their goals and heights,” said Coats.
New head coach James Coats has a mindset of helping others achieve their goal and pushing people to their full capabilities. Coats’ first games coaching at Pioneer, the first of the season, is on Dec. 1 for JV and the second of the season is on Dec. 2 for varsity.
Coats has some history with the school being a former Mustang himself, and he hopes that it can help him coach this team.
“I’ve been a wrestler since 2000 but I’ve been coaching since 2017, but as a wrestler you're kind of always coaching. Coaching is part of wrestling as you teach people a move and teach how to work on the mat, coaching as you wrestle,” said Coats.
That experience will help him get the most out of his wrestlers, a common goal between both coaches.
“I am expecting my athletes to enjoy themselves and grow as student-athletes,” said Murdock. “My goals for the season are to just turn everyone into a better version of themselves.”
Coats is also expecting a lot of his wrestlers this season, he is hoping that the team will follow his expectations.
“Currently this season I expect us to do our best, to maintain good grades, to get a good sense of wrestling and also to be a part of the school sports system and academics,” said Coats.
Kimphu Nguyen, 10, feels excited for the upcoming season and getting to work with the new coach.
“I’m just excited to get to know everybody and just get to know the coach a little better and see what type (of wrestling) he teaches,” said Nguyen.
Senior Nick Kimber is excited for the season with his new head coach and fellow wrestlers.
“I’m most excited for the new experiences we can have and the more fun we can have,” said Kimber.
Murdoch has a very big goal for the team this season, hoping the team can reach the final tournaments.
“I’m excited to see if we can make it to the league finals or CCS. I’d like to invite everyone to come watch this year and support our team,” said Murdoch.
Other wrestlers like Chase Chisholm, 10, thinks that the new leadership will be a positive thing.
“The different coaches aren’t really that big of a deal but I’m expecting kind of a shift in how things operate considering all the new wrestlers,” said ChishoIm. “I like that the new head coach has brought a fresh perspective and a lot of new ideas.”
Coats is hoping to help other students at Pioneer to reach their full potential by using the sport of wrestling.
“Wrestling is an awesome sport. It’s helped me reach the height of my goals that I set for myself and in my life and the dedication has taught me never to quit, and I hope this can teach other students at Pioneer the same and so they can reach their goals and heights,” said Coats.