Warren County Girls’ Soccer Head Coach Todd Willmore establishing a culture of high expectations and consistency as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
Willmore said his first year back with the program last season focused on building a specific foundation and mindset for the players. Willmore said the team began summer preparations several weeks ago and the athletes have already demonstrated a strong commitment to the established standards.
“It appears those expectations have kind of taken hold, and the girls are buying into what we’re trying to do and have been encouraging one another and just working hard,” Willmore said. “So hopefully that’ll pay dividends, you know, come August and September and later, hopefully.”
Willmore said his previous experience coaching nearly every class at the middle school level helped ease the transition when he returned to the high school program. Willmore said while the previous coach utilized a different style, the players have successfully adjusted to his specific requirements and coaching philosophy.
“Well, fortunately, I’d coached all but one of those classes at the middle school, so they were familiar with me and they knew kind of what we did or what we expected from them at the middle school,” Willmore said. “So it was fairly simple just to come in and just say, hey, this is how we’re going to transition and this is what we’re going to move forward doing in terms of our mindset and, you know, just different aspects.”
Willmore said the roster features a strong nucleus of returning starters, though the team must overcome the loss of a key offensive player who suffered an ACL injury during the flag football season. Willmore said the program is working to align its vocabulary and concepts with the middle school feeder program to ensure a seamless transition for younger players.
“I mean, I think we need to be the type program that if someone is out or if someone graduates, we need to have that position filled right away,” Willmore said. “And that’s important to us, and that’s important to our feeder program at the middle school as well.”
Willmore said the personal relationships he has developed with the players over several years make the technical aspects of coaching more effective. Willmore said the roster includes several all-district performers, including Macy McBride and Addie Steakley, alongside a group of experienced juniors and sophomores.
“Well, I mean, I think it helps certainly, but I’ve also got a good relationship with most of these girls or all these girls actually,” Willmore said. “And so it’s the relationship piece that makes the coaching part easy. So that’s kind of what I’m excited for.”
Willmore said the team also features strong academic and community leaders, specifically highlighting senior Leah Johnson for her involvement in Girls State and her volunteer work with a special education program. Willmore said Johnson is a top 10 percent student who serves as a positive influence on the team’s environment.
“So she just makes, kind of makes us tick, makes us smile, and just makes us have a good time,” Willmore said. “So yeah, I mean, if I was going to highlight one, she’d be a good one to but literally, I could pick anybody on that list.”
