For a swan song, New Westminster Secondary’s Doug Woodward would like nothing better than to leave after extending the senior girls basketball season into March.
After 45 years of teaching and coaching, the New West resident says this one will most definitely be his last.
“This is my last season. I just came in one day last week and said ‘That’s it,’” Woodward said, matter-of-factly. “I figured you have to make a decision, and that was it.”
Having heard the decades-old promises to replace ancient NWSS, Woodward once looked forward to teach in a new building – about 15 years ago. He'll leave that honour to someone else, but chuckled at how long staff has been waiting for such an opportunity.
“We were told to move out of the (Massey athletic) office back in 2002, that they were going to tear down the Massey gym soon. Here it is, 2017, and I’m still in my office.”
A new school is apparently on its way for 2020; but one of the longest-serving high school coaches in the province will be enjoying retirement by then.
Although he’s thrown around talk of hanging up the whistle as often as some furniture stores use ‘Going out of business’ as an annual tag line, this time Woodward said it’s for real.
One reason to believe him is that this year’s team is Grade 12-heavy. Nine of 11 players are in their final high school season. Expectations are also not only high, but he felt it also would be fitting to move on after most of his players graduate.
Missing the B.C.s last year serves as a motivation for this year’s ambitions.
Leaders like Sarah Forgie, Mia Obrovac and Devon Strome are key players on this year’s lineup, one that will take to the court this weekend at a controlled scrimmage tournament in Surrey.
On Monday, teams can officially play games, and New West has its first test at McNair. They host Gleneagle on Tuesday for a 5:15 p.m. exhibition game.
“We have a good group, but we have to get more motivated,” he said. “If we pick it up a little bit and work a little harder, we can be in the (top-eight) mix.”
