New coaches at Woodstown

Wolverines elevate Straughn, Roberts to head coaching spots

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Joe Ursino recognized Kara Straughn had the chops to be a head coach at an early age. He was the Woodstown coach back then, Straughn – then Kara Wildermuth – was still a player, but Ursino told her when the time came he wanted her to join him on the bench to help call the shots.

A lot has happened since then. Ursino has gotten out of coaching and became the Wolverines’ athletics director. Straughn moved on with her life and career but stayed close to the game. But in the end, the former coach’s vision became a reality.

After several years working with the team in various capacities, Straughn last week received the letter promoting her to head coach of the Wolverines’ girls basketball coach. The 2013 grad succeeds Brandon Lyons, who stepped away after six seasons and last year’s South Jersey Group I title.

“She’s exactly what the program needs,” Ursino said. “The program’s in a good spot. Sometimes coaches take over and they have some internal work to do; that’s not the situation here. I think she’s going to be into it from the jump. I think the girls already respect her and I think we were lucky to be able to bring her in and have her take over a program that is anticipated to still be pretty successful.

“I had hopes to be able to work with her and her be my assistant one day. That’s just the relationship we had when she was playing. And that’s not just all positive. There were times we maybe didn’t agree when she was a player, but you could tell her approach to the game and I see that now. She’s taught me a lot and I think she’s going to take a lot of her experience and teach our girls a lot.”

Straughn’s dad, Woodstown softball coach Dave Wildermuth, couldn’t be prouder to see his daughter get her shot.

“I’ve been wanting her to carry on the family (legacy),” he said. “We’re a basketball family, so it will be cool to have her and watch her (coach).”

Straughn is one of two former four-year Woodstown players Ursino has brought on board as the Wolverines’ newest head coaches. Bryanna Roberts, Class of 2015, will be their new field hockey coach.

“She has done a lot with our youth programs; I know she does a lot with club and travel programs,” Ursino said. “You talk about someone who’s invested into their sport, so we’re very excited to have her.

“Another program that was left in very good standing by the previous coach and we were looking for someone we thought could foster that environment and continue to progress forward.. She’s definitely, I think, a person who’s going to do that.”

This story first appeared on the Riverview Sports News Facebook page May 31.