Winlock has new coaches for basketball

New coaches at Winlock (front to back): Coach Daughty, Coach Jacobo, Coach Quezada, and Coach Edwards.

Winlock High and Middle Schools have an entirely new basketball team of coaches and what a team it is! Winlock Athletic Director Tia Frazier has proven once again that she is here to make sure our students get what they need for coaches and also coaches who are willing to work with the athletes.

Colton Doughty is the new coach for the high school varsity and we asked him a few questions and his answers are as follows:

LCN: Why coach in Winlock?

Doughty: I was already currently teaching at Winlock and knew most of the athletes from previous sports and was excited about the opportunity to coach high school boys basketball. I have a passion for the game and jumped at the chance to turn this program around.

LCN: What goals do you have for your athletes?

Doughty: My goal for our athletes is to develop them into responsible young men. Basketball is a great sport that can teach good "life skills" such as responsibility, integrity, self-discipline, communication, etc. and my hope is they carry these characteristics on with them post basketball. As far as on the court, our goal is to turn this program around and eventually find ourselves back in the state tournament.

LCN: What is your role as coach?

Doughty: My role as a coach is to be a supporter for our athletes. It is my role to support them on the court and teach them the game. Off the court my role is to continue to be a supporter of our athletes. When an athlete leaves our program my hope is they can look back on their time playing basketball and have the opinion that I as the coach not only cared about them as a player but also as a student and as an individual as well.

Tia Frazier, Athletic Director stated, "Trying to put together this coaching staff was pretty tough. However, just speaking with Coach Doughty, I knew he would be a great fit for the boys. He wants nothing more than to see them succeed on the court, in the classroom and help develop them into great young men. As a teacher, yes he wants to win games, but he also is very big on grades and ensuring that once these kids leave his court and continue on, they will be successful in college or in their careers, by ensuring they are doing everything that they need to do to be just as great in the classroom as they are becoming on the court. The knowledge this coach has for the game is remarkable, as well as his passion and love that shows on the court. You can't help but like him because he sincerely just wants what is best for these kids, while playing the game that he respects so much. He loves his teams and is their biggest advocate for both his players and staff. He knows how to develop relationships with these kids and works with them. He's a natural born leader who sets high expectations for his boys."

Julie Jacobo is the new Winlock Middle School Head Coach, she answered the following questions:

LCN: What are your goals for your players?

Jacobo: To teach them how to set self and team goals and how to achieve them. To be good, respectful young men on and off the court.

LCN: What do you feel you bring to the table as a coach and also graduate of Winlock Schools?

Jacobo: I understand and love the game of basketball, for all ages for me, I bring the heart of the game. As a graduate I understand life in winlock, the good with the less fortunate and what it really takes for a coach to be there for their players.

LCN: As head coach, what are some of the positive aspects you will be bringing to the players?

Jacobo: Respect. I will respect these kids and their feelings. I do set high standards and strict rules but I'll always respect them. Dedication, patience and understanding.

LCN: You are also a Centralia Police Department officer, how do you feel your career can help these players on and off the court?

Jacobo: I came from this school as a troubled kid with a colorful background. I wasn't perfect, but my coach, Mr. Voie showed me what I was missing from home, respect, patience, understanding and gave me the encouragement I hope to give to these kids. And in a sense being an officer at CPD, I have made it, in my dream. So these kids can too.

LCN: What sports have you coached before?

Jacobo: High school basketball, middle school basketball, youth basketball and youth football ... I love them all, coaching is a true passion of mine.

Tia Frazier sees what Jacobo can do, she stated, "Coach Jacobo is one that has extremely high expectations, but as high as they are, she is fair. She has the patience and knowledge on how to develop these middle school boys into some amazing athletes. Being all about fundamentals, she is teaching consistency and discipline, which is something that starts at a very young age. Being a part of this community she wants nothing more than to see this program grow and she realizes that it starts with the youth and basic fundamentals. She knows just how important it is to develop these kids for varsity level play and she knows how to do it. Jacobo knows how to develop athletes and not just basketball players."

Conner Edwards is the new Assistant Head Coach at Winlock High School, he asked the following questions.

LCN: What year did you graduate from Caste Rock and what did you learn there that prepared you for your role as assistant coach?

Edwards: I graduated from Castle Rock in 2019. In high school, I had three great head coaches, each with different coaching styles. I learned something different from each one. As a player I was able to express my ideas, sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn't. Having coaches that were open to listening to us as players helped shape me as a leader too. And they'd still be a call or text away if I needed them. I want to be that coach for our players. I also learned a lot about coaching from my stepdad, who coached my tournament teams and I can still bounce ideas or issues off of.

LCN: What exactly will your role be?

Edwards: My role is to help and be by Coach Doughty's side with anything he needs help with and to always have his back. My role is to also help these players grow as basketball players and into great young adults. To be there to answer any questions they need, to share all my knowledge that I know about the game of basketball and to be an ear for each and every single one of them.

LCN: What do you expect from your players and how do you anticipate getting them to their goals?

Edwards: I expect our players to work as hard as they can to achieve to only their personal goals on the court, but also off the court. Along with that, I also expect them to be the best teammates they can be. I also expect our players to work as hard as they can everyday in practice. I'm willing to do anything in my power to help our players achieve all their goals whether that's extra preparation for the next game with film, or to get extra shots up, or even to help if one is struggling in the classroom. I want the best for our players, and anything I can do to help them get to what they want, I'm willing to do.

Tia Frazier, continued with coach comments with Coach Edwards stating, "Coach Edwards has a passion for a game that is uncanny. He knows how to identify with this group of boys and brings out the fun side of the game even more. He's a go-getter, always ready and learning. He wants to ensure that he knows how to help these kids and prepare them for success. Edwards is able to bring his knowledge as a former college player and work closely with the guards. The two complement each other as coaches and are able to work well together. With their experiences I know that these kids are in good hands."

Tony Quezada, also a graduate of Winlock and assistant coach, answered his questions.

LCN: What are your duties as assistant coach?

Quezada: My duties as an assistant coach are to help the coach promote their vision and culture of the program, take care of any issues that a head coach shouldn't have to deal with, but I believe the assistant is just an extension of the head coach and their values and principles.

LCN: What will be your role?

Quezada: A positive role model and teaching them the fundamentals of the game. Preparing them for pressure situations that will happen on the court but will translate into real life experiences. Always lead by example! Have them believe in themselves to achieve goals no matter how big or small they are because that will carry over into school and their lives!

LCN: As a graduate of Winlock High School and also a coach, what skills did you learn that prepared you for this role?

Quezada: Sometimes it's extremely hard being from Winlock and an alumni because our culture has not always been the best at times. We will go through several down years and then get a good group of kids that will exceed! For the most part everyone always wants to play Winlock as a senior night, homecoming or whatever the event might be because it's an "easy" win and to their credit it is! So with that mentality it has developed myself and my skills to always be positive and prepared for the opponent ahead of us and never take anyone for granted. So with all of that it has shown me that when we win, we do it with class but when we lose we also do it with class and be good sportsmen!

Plus I can go to other gyms and arenas and have stories from when we played and how the culture is and we WILL change the culture! As for me, I have a son that's in second grade and is involved with all these programs and we are tired of losing so it has to start young!

Tia Frazier stated, "Coach Quezada loves what he does and loves bringing his knowledge to the youth. Also coaching cross country and track, he knows how to develop relationships with kids in order to help them succeed. He loves the game and started off volunteering with the boy's team. He does what it will take to play at the varsity level and just how to get them there. He is a huge advocate for all his kids and I know he will bring all his skills to the table to help Coach Jacobo as she develops the middle school program and transitions them to Coach Doughty."