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Hubbard’s Coonce fulfills coaching dream
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Kacie Coonce
By Tom Williams
HUBBARD
After graduating from Hubbard High School in 1998, Kacie Coonce’s goal was to coach for her alma mater.
This fall, she’ll be doing so as varsity head coach as Hubbard has named Coonce its new girls basketball coach to replace Ross Stoffer.
“Hubbard is in my heart,” said Coonce who was Stoffer’s varsity assistant and junior varsity coach for four seasons. “It has always been a dream of mine to coach at Hubbard. Getting the varsity job is icing on the cake.
“This school is so near and dear to my heart — I want to build a program.”
Speaking of cake, Coonce will cap a memorable summer today when she marries Jon Mosora, the Eagles’ football team’s defensive coordinator.
“She’s had some experienced working with Hubbard kids and she’s been an assistant coach for a few years,” said Chuck Montgomery, Hubbard’s acting athletic director. “Kacie has worked her way up and she has a lot of energy.
“She’s paid her dues and she’s very enthusiastic,” Montgomery said. “She’s got some fresh ideas.”
At Hubbard, Coonce was a three-sport varsity athlete: soccer, basketball and softball. She excelled at all three but when it came time to make a college decision, she chose basketball.
“I was better at basketball, it’s always been a passion of mine,” said Coonce who played for a year at Walsh University then transferred to Youngstown State University.
She began her coaching career with Hubbard junior high basketball players while studying at YSU. After coaching the Hubbard junior varsity softball team for several seasons, she took a break then became Stoffer’s assistant coach for the 2007-08 season.
She recently earned a degree in business administration and works for Comprehensive Child and Family Services in Sharon, Pa.
“I’m on the therapeutic staff,” Coonce said. “We mentor children in the classroom, in the community and in the home.”
Her goal is to rebuild the Hubbard program.
“When Burt Gallagher took Hubbard to state in 1986, I was the ball girl,” Coonce said. “I’ve been a part of Hubbard basketball for more than 20 years.”
Coonce knows it won’t be a quick project.
“It won’t be easy as we just lost a [talented] senior class” said Coonce whose only senior this fall will be Katelyn Evans.
In mid-July, the Mosoras will honeymoon at Hilton Head, S.C., then return to focus their attention on their Hubbard teams.
“We’re already learning how to work around our football and basketball schedules,” Coonce said.