Ark Valley News - New coaches, sports will greet Hornets

New head coach Scott L'Ecuyer talks to football players during Hornet camp July 9.

New coaches, sports will greet Hornets
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: July 12, 2018

Valley Center High School has a few new coaches and a couple of new sports for the 2018-19 school year.

On July 9, the school district solidified its coaching rosters for next year, with a few open assistant spots still to be determined.

The notable changes include the addition of two swimming teams and a bowling team. In their Hornet debut, the boys and girls swimming teams are coached by Abra Thieme. Danielle Savage is assistant for the girls team. A boys team assistant has not been formally announced.

The boys swim season is winter, while the girls season is spring.

The new bowling team is led by Phil VanHorn, and Lee Owens is the assistant coach. The bowling season is winter.

Two high-profile fall sports are experiencing changes at the top this year.

Scott L'Ecuyer is the new head coach of the football team. He replaces Caleb Smith, VCHS athletic director who stepped down from coaching after five years. Joining L'Ecuyer's staff are Kelly Cordova and former Hornets Miles Balthazor and John Johnson. They replace Chad Baalman and Dallas Boone. L'Ecuyer is a former assistant. Returning assistants are Jeff Sells, Joey Craig, Blake Pearson, Jared Ensey and Nick Barnes.

Melissa Segovia takes over the volleyball program from Holly (Rutter) Avalos. Segovia was a successful coach at Rose Hill High School. Jessica Johnson and Kaitlin Woelhoff return as assistants. Kristen Allen replaces Amy Doty.

In other sports, former assistant Chris Edwards takes over the golf program as head coach of the boys and girls teams. He replaces longtime coach Mike McCormick. Edwards will be assisted by Corey Jones in the fall and Brian Shelton in the spring.

The cross country coaches have not changed, with Amber Russell as head coach and Colton Durham as assistant.

The girls and boys soccer teams are again coached by Steen Danielsen with assistant Matt Coleman. A second assistant, a position that was added last year, has not been formally announced.

The boys and girls tennis teams are led by longtime head coach Dean Schulz and longtime assistant Matt Klusener.

For winter sports, Trent Preheim resumes his head-coaching role for the girls basketball team. Returning assistants are Patti Childs and Woelhoff. A third assistant has not been formally announced.

Ty Unrau returns as head coach of the boys basketball team. Returning assistants are Jeff Isaacs and Ensey. Corey Carter joins the staff from the middle school, replacing Taylor Hageman.

Tate Lowe returns as head coach of the wrestling team. Also returning are assistants Jordan Doll and Craig. Josh Ortiz, a former Hornet standout, replaces Jeremy LeDuc.

Troy Emig returns as head coach of the track team. Returning assistants include Woelhoff, Russell and Terry Orr. L'Ecuyer replaces Jayson Artaz, and a fifth assistant (a new position this year) will be named later.

The baseball team remains intact with Barnes as head coach and assistants Ryan Jones, Unrau and Bryce Westphal.

The softball team also anticipates no coaching changes. Jones returns as head coach and his assistant coaches are Kyrie Edwards, Carter and Courtney Fields.

2018-19

High school

Cheerleading — Stephanie Gillig (head coach) and assistant Janeigh Dantzson.

Dance — Michelle Lange (head coach).

High school fall sports

Football — Scott L'Ecuyer (head coach) and assistants Joey Craig, Blake Pearson, Jared Ensey, Nick Barnes, Jeff Sells, Miles Balthazor, Kelly Cordova and John Johnson.

Volleyball — Melissa Segovia (head coach) and assistants Jessica Johnson, Kaitlin Woelhoff and Kristen Allen.

Cross country — Amber Russell (head coach) and assistant Colton Durham.

Boys soccer — Steen Danielsen (head coach) and assistant Matt Coleman. (A second assistant has not been formally announced.)

Girls tennis — Dean Schulz (head coach) and assistant Matt Klusener.

Girls golf — Chris Edwards (head coach) and assistant Corey Jones.

High school winter sports

Girls basketball — Trent Preheim (head coach) and assistants Patti Childs, Kaitlin Woelhoff and a third to be formally announced.

Boys basketball — Ty Unrau (head coach) and assistants Corey Carter, Jeff Isaacs and Jared Ensey.

Wrestling — Tate Lowe (head coach) and assistants Josh Ortiz, Jordan Doll and Joey Craig.

Boys swimming — Abra Thieme (head coach) and an assistant to be named later.

Bowling — Phil VanHorn (head coach) and assistant Lee Owens.

High school spring sports

Track — Troy Emig (head coach) and assistants Kaitlin Woelhoff, Scott L'Ecuyer, Amber Russell, Terry Orr and a fifth assistant to be named later.

Baseball — Nick Barnes (head coach) and assistants Ryan Jones, Ty Unrau and Bryce Westphal.

Girls soccer — Steen Danielsen (head coach) and assistant Matt Coleman. (A second assistant has not been formally announced.)

Softball — Corey Jones (head coach) and assistants Kyrie Edwards, Corey Carter and Courtney Fields.

Boys tennis — Dean Schulz (head coach) and assistant Matt Klusener.

Boys golf — Chris Edwards (head coach) and assistant Brian Shelton.

Girls swimming — Abra Thieme (head coach) and assistant Danielle Savage.

Middle school

Cheerleading — Jessica Stuart (head coach).

Middle school fall sports

Football — Trent Preheim (head coach) and assistants Ty Unrau, Mike Smith, Josh Ortiz, Troy Emig and a fifth assistant to be named.

Volleyball — Kyrie Edwards (head coach) and assistants Courtney Fields, JoAnn Owens and Melissa Fehrenbach.

Cross country — Lee Owens (head coach) and assistant Elizabeth Mosely (if numbers warrant).

Girls tennis — Kenny Carter (head coach) and assistant Dillon Jackson.

Middle school winter sports

Boys basketball — Karl Ely (head coach) and assistants Mike Smith, Colton Durham and a third assistant to be named.

Girls basketball — Laura Jordan (head coach) and assistants Melissa Fehrenbach, JoAnn Owens and Amy Doty.

Wrestling — Corey Jones (head coach) and assistant Brian Shelton.

Middle school spring sports

Track — Jeff Sells (head coach) and assistants Taylor Harrison, Lee Owens, Karl Ely, Tessa Aldag and Trent Preheim.

Boys tennis — Kenny Carter (head coach) and assistant Jared Ensey.