WATERTOWN – She’s been in the Watertown-Mayer softball program the last four seasons, but next spring, she’ll be the one calling all the shots. After four seasons as the junior high coach at W-M, Bethany Loether will be the new head coach for the Royals softball team this spring.
“I’m excited,” Loether said. “It will be a good opportunity. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to developing the program.”
With being a part of the Royals’ program the past four seasons, Loether has already built some relationships within the program. Although it will be her first crack at a varsity coaching job, she’s got a good idea of the players currently in the program as she’s coached them in one way or another at some point.
“This will be my varsity coaching debut,” Loether said. “I’ve coached the high school kids in the summertime and things like that, but I haven’t officially been a high school coach. I think that it’s helpful that I have relationships built. This senior class, they were eighth-graders in my first year. They will be my only class that I haven’t directly coached in games, but I’ve helped coach in practices. From juniors on down, all those people I have had, so that’s exciting and fun. I hope that will help the transition to me being a new coach and for me being able to understand my players a little bit better right off the bat.”
Over the years as a junior high coach, Loether has made her way into practices here and there to help out. She’s got a good understanding of most of the players on the roster this upcoming spring, but also realizes that kids do a lot of growing up in four years.
“One of my seasons, I kind of went back-and-forth between practices to where I would go up with coach (Scott) Isakson and pitch batting practice or work on specialty stuff,” Loether said. “I’m also very aware that kids grow up a lot in four years. I’m excited to be on the other side of it, and to be able to see the growth they’ve done in the last four years. We’ll be able to work even a little bit deeper than I was able to do in seventh grade with them.”
It may be her first head coaching job at the varsity level, but Loether already has a mindset and identity for her program she wants to build. It stems from her playing days at the University of Minnesota, and she knows how important a role sports can play in the life of a high school kid.
“For me personally, I just have a high value of sports,” Loether said. “I think it’s a great vehicle to train and equip people in life. For me, the biggest thing is that winning and the stats and stuff will take care of itself if you’re doing the right things. The most important stuff is that I’m developing girls who are confident and people of integrity. The teamwork and collaboration is huge. I want them to go out and give their all, whatever that looks like. One person’s best is going to be different than the next person.”
Loether is a firm believer that there are roles for everyone on the team. While those roles may be different from player to player, it’s an important thing to understand to succeed in sports and in life.
“It’s understanding the value of roles. Not everybody is going to have the same role on the team, but one role is not any less than the next. If they can come together and understand the value of the whole body and each of its parts, those are the things that are important to me, and how that applies later on in life. That’s kind of my focus.”
While Loether enjoyed a four-year career with the Gophers, she’s certainly picked up on things during her time at the collegiate level. Whether it’s drills, how to practice, or influences she has had throughout the way, Loether hopes to tie that all together at Watertown-Mayer.
“I played in college for the Gophers for four years and the stuff you learn is important,” Loether said. “The intensity of practices are much harder than games. Games were fun almost and a piece of cake because of the work you put in during practice. I have a lot of fun and different drills to hopefully make practice fun. I’ve had some pretty great mentors over the years, both in high school and in college, and I’m so thankful for the role models and influences I’ve had all my career.”