A new year brought a new coach for the girls’ soccer team. Dunbar soccer graduate from the graduating class of ’94, Tom Morgan, has recently been appointed as the girls’ soccer coach.

The current East Jessamine High School teacher is excited to work with Dunbar’s team and feels it will be a good match for him.

“Dunbar is one of the largest schools in the state, and in my mind, has a steady influx of talented players.  With a well-established program and talented soccer players consistently coming in, it’s an ideal situation for any coach. Plus, it’s my alma mater, and in my opinion, Dunbar is the premier school in the state,” said Coach Morgan. “There is nowhere else I would want to be coaching.”

Coach Morgan played soccer on the varsity team at Dunbar for four years and he was a member of the 1992 State Championship team, the 1993 State finalist team, and he won All State for 1991-1993. After high school, Coach Morgan went on to play soccer at Western Kentucky University.

Aside from playing, Coach Morgan also has an impressive coaching record. Starting in 1998, he began his coaching career as a WKU volunteer assistant followed by coaching at Bowling Green High school, SOKY Soccer Club, East Jessamine High school and the LFC Soccer Club.

Members of the girls’ soccer team are just as excited to play under Coach Morgan’s guidance as he is to coach them.

“I feel a lot more prepared coming in to the season having him as a coach; he’s really helped us a lot,” said junior Morgan Tallio.

Practices are two hours long: they start with a warm-up stretch, they do drills, which is the majority of practice, and then finish off practice by running.

“The warm-up helps prevent injuries and the running teaches us to focus under pressure and improve our fitness.” Said junior Reilly Teal, “Practice is definitely a challenge but we enjoy it because Coach Morgan adds competition and structure to our drills. I think he pushes us to our fullest potential and holds us to high expectations.”

With all of Coach Morgan’s experience as a player and a coach, he’s confident that he’ll be able to bring a lot to Dunbar’s soccer season and help the players reach their goals.

Aside from head Coach Morgan, the staff consists of Coach Casey, the JV coach, Coach Kirsten, assistant JV coach and Coach Katelyn the goalie/assistant varsity coach.

“We have the kind of coaching staff who can cultivate a strong learning environment,” said Morgan, “Ultimately, I someday want our team to bring a State Championship to PLD for girls soccer,” he said.

Overall the team had a successful season and the players hope to continue next year under the same positivity and unity brought by Coach Morgan.