COACH OF THE YEAR: That and teaching players on and off the field has helped Vicky King influence her players' lives for 17 seasons.
By STEVE LEE
Published March 14, 2004
LAND O'LAKES - Of course they were just happy to be there.
After all, the defending state champion Land O'Lakes girls soccer team appreciated a return to the state final four. Even a a 5-0 semifinal loss to Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas could not dampen the team's spirits.
Goalkeeper Shannon Aitken, a senior who signed with Tampa, took it hard, but in a postgame interview at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium, three teammates spoke of the joy of getting another title shot.
Well done, coach Vicky King.
Like some Gators, King shed a few tears afterward. Nothing less was expected from a coach who wears her heart on her sleeve. One who draws out a player's full potential yet keeps the game in perspective.
"She taught me it's not just about winning," senior defender Jessica Gagnon said. "It's about being winners off the field."
Added Aitken, a four-year starter, "She can be your coach, your friend, your mentor ... whatever you need."
King, the program's only coach in its 17 seasons, is the county's winningest coach at 256-109-30. And for becoming the first coach in the county, including boys and girls teams, to win a state title, King was named coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
For taking the Gators back to state, King repeats as the Times' county coach of the year.
"You have to be an active participant," King said of being part of her players' lives.
Kate Taylor, Land O'Lakes assistant and junior varsity coach the past two seasons, said she has "learned a lot" from King.
"She's very positive with all the girls," Taylor said, adding that King tries to instill a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
King's players, Taylor said, are taught to be "role models. You have to excel on the field; in the classroom."
This season, perhaps more than last year's state champions, exemplified those attributes. Especially since the Gators had to overcome the loss of 10 seniors, including all-time county scoring leader Stacy Bishop.
"We had to work a little harder to build the team back up," Gagnon said.
"The expectations weren't as high, but they just went out every day and worked," King said. "There was a different star every night. In the crunch, they would look to anybody to get it done.
