The Creek has quite a few new coaches looking to leave their mark this 2024-2025 year and show everyone who the big dawgs in the house are. Ready for their respective victorious seasons, football coach Danny Southall, girls’ basketball coach Kyra Bauer, and boys’ basketball Coach Derrick Jones share their thoughts on preparing their athletes for seasons that extend to the playoffs.
“There is an elite program here,” Bauer said. “Having the opportunity to work at a top school, academically and through athletics, was really the move.”
The Bulldog legacy of excellence reached cross-town transfer Southall who was eager to commit.
“The best is the standard, and Summer Creek picked me,” he said.
All three coaches can agree that the biggest characteristics they look for in athletes are hard work and attitude, so for those Bulldogs who plan to be a part of the athletic program, make sure to show out.
“You’re judged off your work, so your best better be put forward,” Southall said. “It’s how people look at you.”
Jones’ philosophy when choosing players is similar, but it also focuses a heavy stress on responsiveness.
He looks for athletes that have “a little talent, [are] very coachable—and we can [develop] the rest.”
Maintaining positive relationships with their teams is valued by the coaches as well. They all have been working with their teams over the summer to strengthen bonds and keep trust on and off the field or court.
“Kids see through fake,” Southall said.
Bauer’s remarks on her “Players’ Coach” coaching style seem to support the idea of being there for your players outside of athletics most.
“I put my players first, wins second, but it always allows us to come out with a win,” she says. “If you care about the people you’re trying to work with, the work becomes really easy.”
