For parts of the past four decades, Doc Carranza has been a staple at Windsor High School.
Over the years, Carranza has coached a number of sports at Windsor– tennis, track and field, girls basketball, and even football. The former Windsor teacher is currently the head boys and girls tennis coach at Windsor. While he is retired from teaching, he continues to substitute teach at Windsor.
But now, Carranza has become the head coach for the girls varsity basketball team at…Herculaneum?
That isn’t a typo.
Carranza was the head girls coach at Windsor from 2003-2006. He was named the JCAA Coach of the Year after the 2003-04 season. Carranza also was an assistant coach at Jefferson College for four years. The Vikings made it to the national tournament in all four years, finishing as national runner up two years in a row.
With so many ties to Windsor, what made Carranza want to take over at another school?
“I missed the game. You want to be on the bench and there aren’t any openings at Windsor,” Carranza said. “Plus, it’s really close to home and Herky has had a good program over the years.”
Coincidentally, the Owls first game of the season is at 7pm at Herculaneum on Monday.
“It’s definitely going to be weird to see him on the other sideline,” assistant coach Jeff Stoffey said. “Doc was the girl’s coach when I was in high school and he was an assistant coach with me for a few years. I’ve probably known him since I was around seven years old. We love the guy but we still want to beat him.”
With this being the first game, the players will be especially excited for the game.
“There will be a lot of tension and the competition will be high,” senior Geneva Turnbough said. “We’ve always competed really hard against them, and now we will even harder since one of our own staff members is coaching there.”
Carranza also knows that his first “home” game will have a different feeling this time around.
“It will feel funny wearing the black and red instead of the brown and gold,” Carranza said. “I’m excited to get started.”
