The Wesley College girls lacrosse team has plugged its head coaching void with a face that should be familiar to those associated with the sport in the area.
Debbie Windett, now the former head coach of the Caesar Rodney High School varsity team, accepted the position Jan. 20, tendering her resignation as a Rider teacher and coach effective Jan. 29.
After coaching at the high school level her entire career, Windett said the time just seemed right to try something new.
“It was just a great opportunity,” she said. “I knew it would take a lot to get me to leave CR, but I had 33 years of teaching and it was kind of an intriguing challenge.”
Windett inherits a team that went 7-9 last season, and has not had a winning season since 2003, meaning she has her work cut out for her.
To begin building this program up, she said, there needs to be a level of stability added that’s been missing in recent years.
“Part of the issue there has been consistency,” she said. “You need consistency with a program so I’d like to stick around there. We’re in a tough conference and we’re going to have to improve to compete.”
From there, Windett said she’ll have to get really good at doing something she’s never been allowed to do at the high school level — recruiting.
“There’re so many kids in Delaware that could be playing, so many local kids that could have a stick in their hands and play for us,” she said. “The biggest thing is getting out there, getting visible and finding the kids. That’s my big push is to find kids and get as many in that we can.”
Mike Drass, athletic director at Wesley, said in a released statement Windett was brought in to build the program into a steady and strong challenger.
“We are very excited to get the coach who we felt was the best person for the job,” Drass said. “With her wealth of experience and success, Wesley College feels she can turn the program into a contender in the Capital Athletic Conference.”
Immediately after accepting the job, Windett was thrown into her new role with practices starting last week.
It’s been hectic trying to acclimate herself and get the team used to her style. However, she added that once she is done at Caesar Rodney at the end of this week she could devote her full attention to the Wolverines.
