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Kristi Mule, on the first girls soccer team, inherits program from Ahrens.
By FRANK PASTOR
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 14, 2002
BROOKSVILLE -- When Rick Ahrens stepped down after nine seasons as the Hernando girls soccer coach, he said one of his proudest moments was former player Kristi Mule's return to the team as a volunteer coach.
"It was like a kid coming back to take over a parent's job," Ahrens said.
Now, she really has.
Mule, a member of the school's first squad and the first scorer in program history, recently was named the Leopards' second head coach.
"It's a neat circle," Mule said.
Mule, 23, works at Hensley Chiropractic Clinic in Brooksville and does athletic training afternoons at Hernando High. Former teammate and co-captain Lindsey Copeland will assist Mule and teach life management.
"Kristi was competitive," athletic director Matt Smith said. "She helped out, so she knows what's going on with the program.
"I think she's going to be a good motivator for her student-athletes," he said, "and I think with her and Lindsey both coaching together, they're going to do a solid job for our program."
Ahrens helped launch the squad in 1993. Things started slowly, as Hernando was outscored 27-0 in its first three games before Mule produced the Leopards' first goal on a penalty kick in a 4-3 win over Pasco. Hernando went on to win conference and district championships in Mule's third season.
"It's neat because I had never played soccer before my freshman year," she said. "Only one or two had ever played competitive ball.
"To come into the junior year and score goals and win districts and everything, it was an awesome achievement."
Mule played at Tusculum College, graduating in May 2001. She returned to Brooksville to attend massage therapy school and assist Ahrens at Hernando.
Ahrens was named to a Department of Education Agri-Science Leadership Committee, which seeks ways to build state agriculture programs. He said his new responsibilities, along with teaching commitments, left little time for coaching.
Mule said she will have to approach relationships with her players differently as a head coach.
"You can't just go out there and play with them and be like, "Whatever,' " she said. "It'll be hard for me to set that boundary as a coach now instead of another player helping out."
Jim Monroe was hired to teach history and coach boys soccer. He replaces Tino Vasquez, whose year-to-year contract wasn't renewed.
"He seems real excited about the job," Smith said. "I think he's going to do a real good job with the boys team."
Hernando continues to seek boys and girls track coaches.
Boys coach Dwayne Mobley decided to work in middle school sports this season. Girls coach Pat Hobart is involved in the construction of a house.
Smith does not have a target date for replacements.
"We're going to look for the most qualified person we can find to fill those positions," he said. "If we find them next week, that'd be great. But if it takes a couple months. ..."
Junior varsity football coach Shawn Bingham and JV softball coach Angie Svagerko are other new additions to the staff.
-- Frank Pastor can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com.