While participating in sports can be challenging, coaching two sports while teaching and having the responsibilities that come with being a mother can be more than a handful. However, that hard work and dedication has paid off for coach Dena Adkins, as she has been awarded the Coach of the Year award by the STCA (Southeast Texas Coaching Association).

Adkins is currently the coach for girls and boys cross country and the softball team. She has been a coach for 19 years and has been at LCM for 10 years. During the 2016 season, Adkins had the opportunity of traveling with the boys team to the state meet in Austin. This was the first time in Battlin’ Bear history for the entire cross country team to advance to state and because of this achievement, Adkins is being recognized.

“I am very humbled to win this award for cross country,” Adkins said. “I know I do my part in the boys training but so much of their success can be accredited to their hard work and determination.”

While coaching, Adkins tends to form a special bond with her athletes. Junior Rayce Piper, who has been coached by Adkins since his freshman year, said he has been impacted tremendously by his coach.

“She’s impacted my life majorly by showing me the true value of hard work and dedication, both in running and life,” Piper said. “She really deserves this award because of the time and effort she puts in with her athletes.”

The cross country team has the goal of advancing to state again for the 2017 season and they are aiming to compete in the top three teams. With the help of Adkins’ new workout plans and constant motivation, their goal seems to be within complete possibility.

“The goals for the team next year is definitely to return to state,” Piper said. “We are going to reach these goals, thanks to Coach Adkins.”

Along with coaching the cross country team, Adkins is also hard at work on the softball field. Before she began coaching the cross country team, she coached only softball and won this same award for girls softball in 2014. Since Adkins began coaching at LCM 10 years ago, the girls varsity softball team has advanced to the playoffs eight times. This season, they are working to advance for the ninth.

When she’s not on the softball field, at the track, or in her classroom, Adkins enjoys spending time with her daughter and participating in fun, outside activities. One of these things is cross-fit. She has been doing cross-fit for four years, and it is something she truly enjoys.

“I can’t say its always fun, but it is always challenging,” Adkins said.

Even though Adkins has a full plate, she always manages to balance it all while making impacts on her athletes, that also have an impact on her.

“She is the greatest coach ever,” Piper said. “She really treats us like family.”