Past experiences enhance cross sport coaching, player prep

• Marble Falls rising senior Kylie Roberts (left) will continue working with assistant coach Aspen Howie on the softball diamond and on the basketball court.
• Photos by Jennifer Fierro/ TexasChalk-Talk.com Softball head coach Alex Lozoya, who is talking to rising senior Emma Cayce, will continue to lead this program in the spring and serve as the cross country assistant coach in the fall as well as the freshman coach of the Lady Mustangs basketball program in the winter.
• Past experiences and the ability to get the most out of athletes are two reasons why Marble Falls coaches Aspen Howie (left) and Hailey Wooten will take on more during the 2024-25 school year. Photos by Jennifer Fierro/TexasChalkTalk.com

Share athletes. That’s been the mantra and rallying cry throughout high schools across the Highland Lakes.

But in 2024-25, the Marble Falls Independent School District athletic department is leading its athletes by example by sharing coaches in an of- ficial capacity.

Lady Mustangs basketball head coach Adley Canales announced two new members to his staff that had already retained Kaitlyn Goertz, who is now coaching the junior varsity after spending years with the freshmen.

Aspen Howie is the varsity assistant coach, which Canales occupied for years on John Berkman’s staff, and Alex Lozoya is coaching the freshmen. Lozoya is the softball head coach and the cross country assistant coach, two posts he will retain. Howie, who is entering her second year at Marble Falls ISD, spent last season coaching at the middle school and as a softball assistant on Lozoya’s staff. Berkman is the assistant athletic director and the boys basketball head coach.

“That’s a huge thing,” he said. “It shows our athletes it’s OK to do other things and be part of another sport. You can do basketball and softball. They can say ‘let’s go out and try softball. I could go help softball by playing.’ The girls get to build relationships with coach Lozoya. I think that’s a big piece of the puzzle.”

Lozoya noted the many reasons why he said yes to the basketball program. The biggest is because his wife gave her blessing after the two concluded it wouldn’t be a big disruption on their home life.

He noted the transition that freshmen go through as they’re learning their way around campus, adjusting to the standards of high school athletics, and trying to find what they're good at and enjoy.

“Over the years, I’m seeing the same story repeat,” he said. “They want to come in and say, ‘Hey coach, I’m doing good, I’m standing out, I’m working hard.’ They want you to know that ‘what I’m doing is correct and at the same time, I’m not standing out for what it isn’t supposed to be.’ They want to do well and they don’t want to be talked about (negatively).”

He also has enjoyed the many talks and conversations with Canales during the two years Lozoya has been on staff. They’ve exchanged stories and insights, which made both men believe they can work together for the benefit of the overall program.

“I enjoy working with him,” Lozoya said. “I believe in him. We’ve tossed ides back and forth.”

Softball varsity assistant coach Hailey Wooten will spend the fall on the volleyball staff, while Lozoya takes charge of the softball offseason program. Once volleyball season ends, Wooten will lead the softball offseason as basketball season begins.

Lozoya said he felt able to coach basketball because of Wooten’s experience in leading a program. She was the Burnet High School softball head coach before returning to her alma mater last year. Lozoya tells Wooten she is “another chef with experience.” In other words, she knows how to get softball players physically and mentality ready to face a grueling season while Lozoya is with the basketball program.

“She has her own things that worked for her,” he said. “It makes it easier.”

Berkman pointed out the importance of having a staff member who has been a head coach before because very little surprises that individual. It’s one reason why he offered Canales the job of varsity assistant coach while he was the Lady Mustangs basketball head coach years ago.

“Adding him to my staff was huge,” he said. “I could trust him to run a practice and run the team. Young coaches just don’t know. Coach Lozoya knows coach Wooten will run it like a head coach.”

Howie’s promotion is significant in that it shows what Canales and Lozoya think of her ability to coach players and build rapport with them.

Lozoya was a coach in the select world and the collegiate level before he became a high school coach and was grateful to have worked for head coaches who were willing to teach him the duties, responsibilities and other tasks that are learned on the job.

“I was blessed to have head coaches who did the training and the teaching,” he said. “They took ideas and they took the time to share experiences. I was blessed to have a head coach that doesn’t micromanage.”

And they made it clear to him that they wanted to hear his thoughts, insights and what he saw all in an effort to ensure the players were ready to compete at their best. Lozoya said his goal with Howie and Wooten is to have similar working relationships.

“I think that’s something I hopefully have been able to do with my assistants,” he said. “I read a quote a long time ago that went something like ‘train them up and if they leave, that’s good. If they don’t leave, you’re not helping yourself.’ When you have passionate people who want to work, you have to give them the chance to do that.”

Berkman said one primary role of each head coach is to help their assistants take the next step up on their career ladders. That comes through evaluations, conversations and giving them more responsibilities. Young coaches see that example.

“As a head coach, it’s your job with assistants to make them head coaches,” he said. “You evaluate your assistants. You’re trying to grow them. Being a leader, you take on that responsibility.”

As he thought about the upcoming year, Lozoya was excited. After all, the cross country program returns rising senior Tyler Hamblin, who has been to regional and state meets the last three years. There’s no indication that will change as Brenda Gonzalez takes over as the head coach from the retired Chris Schrader.

The Lady Mustangs basketball program has been the most consistent in qualifying for the playoffs during the last two decades, which illustrates the players and coaches are committed to playing to a standard.

And the softball program showed growth under Lozoya’s guidance even if the record didn’t indicate it because of the outstanding play of District 24-4A opponents.

“We can divide and conquer,” Lozoya said. “As busy as I feel, I look forward to it. I feel a sense of comfort that we can keep things going. Coach Wooten and coach Howie know their stuff. They’ve learned how to relate to kids and young adults. They know how to be tough on them and how to love them up. They do a great job. I’m blessed to have those two with me.”

Jennifer Fierro publishes reports about area youth athletic events on her website TexasChalkTalk.com. To send her a note, email fierrojennifer@yahoo. com.