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One on one: Kevin Towne, Lecanto girls soccer coach

By DAWN REISS
Published November 1, 2005

Girls soccer kicks off this week. Lecanto's Kevin Towne, 41, coached the Panthers to a 17-3-1 record last year. He starts his 17th season in soccer at Lecanto. He has posted a 229-74-17 mark in that span. Towne guided the boys team to a 115-38-9 record in eight years, then coached the girls (114-36-8) for eight seasons before taking an off year. Towne, also the Citrus Springs Middle School athletic director and football coach, talked to the Times about his love for coaching and wheely-popping motorcycle days.

So, how did you get into coaching?

I played soccer in college (Slippery Rock University in Pa.). I was a goalkeeper, and as a senior, a freshman beat me out for the starting spot. The head coach asked me if I would coach the junior varsity squad.

What was it like to coach other college players as a college athlete yourself?

It was tough in the start. But they really respected me, and after 2-3 practices, they realized I was coach. I was the head junior varsity coach and an assistant on varsity.

How do you have coaching success?

You have to be organized. You've got to have a game plan. You have to change things up so kids don't get bored and you can keep them motivated. You've got to have goals and set paths to reach them. There are always bumps in the road. You just have to have a plan to get through them.

Do you follow any teams or particular athletes?

The Buffalo Bills and Syracuse Orangemen. I'm from upstate New York, so that's what I grew up watching. I saw the Bills play when they came to Tampa Bay and got killed.

So what's something unusual about you a lot of people don't know?

I used to race motorcycles.

Really. Where? Why did you get into it?

I raced in upstate New York about 40 miles north of Rochester. I started riding when I was 7 years old. My older brother did, so, of course, I wanted to too. I always liked to go fast, apparently too fast. Then I had my crash.

Crash?

Yes, and it wasn't even at a race track. I was out joy riding on old railroad tracks. Where it bends, I couldn't see really well. I collided with another rider. It was almost dark, and I was 14. This is a true story. We lay there for two hours in the dark, waiting for someone to come. I almost lost my left leg. I had to go to Rochester to see a specialist. My parents begged for a second and third opinion and luckily they got one. I still have all my natural parts in there.

Did you ever ride again?

I did. Two weeks after getting out of the hospital, my dad put me on one again. He didn't want me to be afraid of it. He knew how much I enjoyed it. Now my two kids are riding 4-wheelers everywhere with my daughter (Brenna), 6; and son (Ryan), 12.

[Last modified November 1, 2005, 08:51:02]