Although she is currently coaching the Goodrich varsity softball team, Amy Gall hoped for another shot at coaching girls basketball.
Davison High School is providing that opportunity. Gall, who was an assistant coach this season under Goodrich varsity basketball coach Jason Gray, has been hired as the new varsity girls basketball coach at Davison for the 2006-07 season.
Gall, who is currently an English teacher at Goodrich High School, will also teach English at Davison next year. However, she said as of now she intends to come back to coach softball at Goodrich next season.
Gray said although Gall spent only one season as an assistant at Goodrich, she brought a lot to the table and will be missed.
‘One of the biggest things is a new energy and a new way of thinking,? he said. ‘To have someone else come in and have the same ideas, but with a different voice, and bring plenty of enthusiasm, was very helpful.?
Before coming to Goodrich, she was previously the varsity girls basketball coach at Manchester High School (near Chelsea) for four years, and coached softball for five years.
She will be making a jump up in school size next season. In the 2005-06 Michigan High School Athletic Association school directory, the Cardinals are listed as a Class A program with approximately 1,600 students, compared to Goodrich, a Class B school with approximately 663 students.
However, the Martians have been consistently successful in the Genesee Area Conference Red Division, while the Cardinals struggled in the Big Nine Conference this past season.
The Cardinals went 6-15, and coach Ray Timmerman resigned after six years with the Cardinals. In search for a new coach, Davison athletic director Scott Thurlow said Gall’s attitude and experience proved to be a good fit for the Davison program.
‘She had experience in college and was a varsity coach in Manchester,? Thurlow said. ‘She understands the game and is as enthusiastic a person as you’ll meet.?
Gall said she is ready for the challenge.
‘They’re looking to rebuild a program,? Gall said of Davison. ‘When I was a coach in Manchester, that’s what I was doing. They’re looking for a little spunk. I miss coaching basketball, and this was a great opportunity.?
Although she is grateful for the opportunity to once again became a head basketball coach, she said she learned a lot this past season coaching alongside Gray and fellow assistants Sarah Kaechele and Mitch Urbain.
‘He (Gray) has a lot of different philosophies, and they cross over to what I believe,? she said. ‘It was great to be in a program that was this successful. He has a lot of drive, and he was great to work with. It was fun to work with him and the kids.?
For his part, Gray said Gall will bring plenty of enthusiasm to the Davison job.
‘She has great relationships with kids,? he said. ‘It’s a lot easier for kids to work hard when they know you care about them and want them to succeed.?
Gall played two years of softball and two years of basketball at Albion College, and graduated from the school in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and English. She later earned her teaching certificate from Eastern Michigan University.