I’D LIKE TO THANK DEB CASTLE WHO IS THE HEAD COACH FOR THE SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS IN MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON IN THE NWAC IN JUCO BASKETBALL FOR SHARING ADVICE AND HER THOUGHTS ON 2021-22 CAMPAIGN WITH THE CANNON NETWORK. SHE SHARED, “I HAVE BEEN AT SVC FOR 27 YEARS. I WAS THE ASSISTANT COACH UNDER STEVE EPPERSON WHO WAS THE HEAD COACH FOR 42 YEARS. I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE DEFENSE, INBOUNDS AND SPECIAL PLAYS, AND CONDITIONING AS THE ASSISTANT. I TOOK OVER 3 YEARS AGO WHEN STEVE FINALLY DECIDED TO RETIRE. LOL. I HAVE COACHED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL FOR 6 YEARS BEFORE JOINING THE STAFF HERE AT SVC. I WAS AT BURLINGTON-EDISON HIGH SCHOOL IN BURLINGTON, WA FOR 4 YEARS, AND AT HAAKON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR 2 YEARS.

I COACHED JUNIOR HIGH BASKETBALL FOR 3 YEARS WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE. I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOUNGER COACHES THAT THIS IS A HARD JOB AND IT WILL CONSUME A LOT OF YOUR TIME AND ENERGY. YOU MUST BE DEDICATED TO IT AND THE ATHLETES YOU WORK WITH. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING JOBS I HAVE EVER HAD OR I WOULD NOT BE DOING IT FOR THIS LONG. WORKING WITH YOUNG KIDS/ADULTS AT ANY LEVEL IS INSPIRING TO ME AND THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT THE GAME AND LIFE. ALWAYS BE A STUDENT OF THE GAME, AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OTHER COACHES. WE ALL LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. AT ONE TIME WE WERE ALL A PLAYER, AND TREAT PLAYERS HOW YOU WANTED TO BE TREATED OR WERE TREATED. DON’T DO THIS FOR YOURSELF, DO IT FOR OTHERS.

SVC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2021-22 I HAVE ONE 3RD YEAR PLAYER AND SIX 2ND YEAR PLAYERS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS FRESHMAN PER COVID TIMES. I HAVE 3 INCOMING TRUE FRESHMAN. WE ARE AN EXPERIENCED TEAM, WITH A LOT OF PASSION AND HARD WORKERS. THESE GIRLS DO NOT GIVE UP AND HAVE THE ENERGY TO PROVE IT. WE WILL PLAY THE FULL COURT AND HAVE INSTALLED SOME NEW DEFENSES AND OFFENSES TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES AND OUR PLAYER PERSONAL. WE WILL BE COMPETITIVE AND WILL FINISH IN THE TOP 4 IN OUR REGION AND COMPETE FOR AN NWAC TITLE.”