As softball players retire to the benches after a grueling batting practice, new head coach John Reina entertains the exhausted girls by cracking jokes. Reina’s amicable personality is something he shares with other new coaches Brian Germain, Harry Wilkes and Dorothy Brown.
According to JV softball player Lindsay Charters, sophomore, Reina “has a different coaching style.”
“Coach Reina is more involved,” Charters said, adding that he regularly attends JV practices in addition to coaching varsity.
Wilkes, the new boys varsity soccer assistant coach, expressed similar sentiments.
“There is a chemistry unlike at any other school,” he said.
Varsity player Basheer Al-Kakhan, senior, said that Wilkes helps the team with tactics.
Wilkes aims for the team to become one of the top three schools in the district this season.
Brian Germain also joined the soccer program this year as an assistant coach for the girls JV and varsity teams.
He is the son of head coach Ann Germain and the brother of assistant coach Kim Germain.
Brian Germain is “a nice new addition to the team,” varsity soccer player Lauren Perlowski, sophomore, said.
Brian Germain said he is “still learning the ropes,” but that he is excited about his opportunity to coach, mentioning that his family convinced him to take the position.
The new coach brings his own dynamic to the field.
“Instead of yelling across the field … he talks to you when you come off,” JV soccer player Zohal Yousefi, sophomore, said.
New JV and former freshman volleyball coach Dorothy Brown also has family ties at Marshall. Her daughter, sophomore Mika Brown, is a JV volleyball player for Marshall.
Dorothy Brown led the team to ten victories this last season, setting an all-time Marshall record for volleyball victories.
Dorothy Brown became the JV volleyball coach this year after the former coach, Chad Brizek, moved to the head coaching position.
“My freshmen girls, they would say ‘why don’t you coach JV with us,’” Dorothy Brown said. “I try to be there for them in other parts of their lives.”
“[I can] see what high school girls are going through,” she said.