Due to the current coronavirus situation with all sports being shut down, there are a lot of coaches who had their chance to coach their senior athletes one last time cut short. ENC Sports Review would like to highlight some of these coaches since their season has hanged so dramatically. Today, we will highlight SouthWest Edgecombe High School’s Sandra Langley. We thank Sandra for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about her and we hope you will too.
How long have you been coaching?
I have been coaching sports since the fall of 1974. You do the math! Lol I have been coaching for 46 years.
What sports have you coached?
The sports that I have coached are basketball, softball, track & field, and volleyball.
I coached three years at North Edgecombe High School, one year at West Edgecombe High School and began coaching at SouthWest Edgecombe in 1978-79 since South Edgecombe & West Edgecombe High School consolidated. I have coached since the consolidation to the present.
Out of all the sports you have coached, which one do you enjoy the most?
I guess I would have to say basketball is my “passion.” I played basketball at South Edgecombe High School and played college basketball at Barton (Was Atlantic Christian then). My high school coach, Louis Eason was my inspiration and inspired me to play and coach. He passed his love of the game or torch to me. He made the game fun and even though we work hard at our practices, I have always tried to keep the game “fun.” I strive to teach my players the game; I try to get them to certainly understand “what” we need to do in a game situation but also “why” it should be done this way.
Has an athlete impacted you in an important way or taught you something that helped shape you as a coach?
I have probably learned something from all of my athletes. It is important to make all of your players feel special. It is particularly important that you have certain rules and expectations and that you enforce these rules from the least talented to the most talented. Your rules need to be written; they must have some flexibility, but not too much flexibility and they must be enforced. Probably two of my most talented players during their freshman year tried me on my rules. They found out very quickly that they had to follow the same rules or they would not remain on the team. These two very talented Division I players who led their teams to state championships; one in 1996 and one in 2005 later thanked me for my discipline. We remain in very close contact to this day. Letting the so called “superstar” get away with not following the rules will destroy your team. It was my coach that taught me this valuable lesson. Again, basketball is a team sport; and there is no “I” in team.” The lessons that we learn in a sport can tremendously help us cope with life’s challenges.
What is your favorite memory of coaching and what is your least favorite?
All four of our state championships have been special. But perhaps the first one (1981) is the most memorable because this team had lost a “heart breaker” the previous year. The 1981 team had to come from 15 points behind at half time to win. The one in 1996 was very special too. They were 13 points down at halftime and came back and won. I used the story of the 1981 team being down by 15 to help inspire them that it was possible to still win. These two teams were “shining” examples of why you never give up and you never stop trying regardless of the situation. The 1996 teams also had several injuries going into the play-offs that year. They played through these injuries and still won. I can truly say each team has its own special memories or will always have a place in my heart.
Least Favorite Memory.
The 1980 team lost a heart breaker in the state semi-finals at Hickory High School. This was when the final 8 teams went to a site to play. If you lost the first round, you went home. If you won the first round, you played in the final four. We lost the second round in a heart breaker (with 3 starters fouling out and still only lost by 1 and had to stay and play for third place the next night). I was glad to see the NCHSAA change the format after that year. A consolation game is never good in the state championship format.
If you could change one thing in your coaching career, what would it be and why?
I guess if I could change something in my career, it would be to reach those few players that I tried my best to help and could not. But I do feel that I did all I could to help them make it through the program. I have always tried to be fair and show my players that I care about them on and off the court.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I always looked up to my parents; I was fortunate to have very supportive parents. My father passed away my first year coaching at North Edgecombe and never got to see me coach. I always thought we would have so much time together to talk about my coaching. My mom is 94 years old and she still comes to our games. They both were role models for me and taught me the importance of being a good parent.
I also looked up to my high school coach, Louis Eason who was an inspiration to me and helped make me the coach that I am. I will always be grateful to him. In my early years, he supported me and was a mentor for me until he passed away in 1999.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something that you know now, what would it be?
I always try to end my practices and games on a positive note. You never know when it might be the last time you see one another.
If someone wants to follow in your footsteps, what advice would you give them?
I always have a practice plan each day to effectively utilize the time allowed at practice. You need to teach the game, always work on fundamentals and make drills game like as much as possible. But the most important thing, let your players know you care, teach your players positive lifetime skills, help them to build positive relationships and above all be a positive role model for them on and off the court.
After the Coronoavirus pandemic is over, what is the first thing you are looking forward to that you can’t do now?
Fortunately for us, our basketball team was able to complete their season. I just hate that we were not able to have our athletic banquet where we get to recognize our seniors. I have constantly stayed in touch with my team since this Coronavirus pandemic began. I send out text messages and constantly check on them to keep them informed about what I am doing and see what they are doing. I would like to get my seniors together when this is all over and celebrate their graduation.
Be sure to check out High School OT Honors as they present Sandra with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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