By OBA Staff
•
June 19, 2025

Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Gulf Shores will celebrate Make Music Day with a community event at Meyer Park on Saturday, June 21. This free, family-friendly celebration invites everyone to enjoy live music and fun activities. Music lovers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend. It’s a chance to enjoy local talent, food trucks, and the longest day of the year.

The Sedona-Oak Creek School District is currently recruiting nine coaching staff.

As of June 6, SOCSD is seeking an assistant track and field coach, head tennis coach, head track and field coach, head varsity boys’ basketball coach, head varsity girls’ soccer coach, head varsity softball coach, head varsity volleyball coach, junior varsity volleyball coach and middle school girls’ basketball coach.

“We have some incredible kids; they’re really eager to play sports, to learn about a new sport,” SRRHS Athletic Director Peter Brock said. “From a potential coach’s perspective a lot of these kids are eager to learn. There might be some growing pains with some of the kids, as they’re learning that a sport is more difficult from the inside versus the outside. But I think a lot of our kids are coachable, and they’re here to improve. If we find the right coach we’re set for success.”

Varsity head coaches are generally compensated at rates varying from $3,528 to $4,189 for the year, and assistant, junior varsity and middle school coaches are paid $2,205.

Superintendent Tom Swaninger, Ph.D., said that the district may move to hire new coaching staff for currently filled positions but did not provide specifics.

“It’s either we either have not secured that [coaching] position, or we feel that we could potentially improve that position by opening up [it] for further interviews,” Swaninger said.

The time commitment for coaches was expected to be around 10 hours per week, not including game and travel time, with high school practices generally being held for two hours a day Monday through Friday, with Saturdays as an option, Brock said.

Middle school sports usually practice Monday through Thursday, but Friday practices can be important early in the season. Assistant coaches can anticipate the same time commitment.

“We have great facilities overall,” Brock said. “Other resources we have, I am a certified athletic trainer, so I’m here to help keep those kids out on the field. I’m here to not just oversee the athletics department, but also to provide immediate care and help treat these kids when they have injuries. That’s something that’s a bit undervalued, because if we can keep kids healthy, then the sky’s the limit getting these teams to perform at their best.”

“Moving forward, there will be weekly meetings with [Brock] with all the coaches, covering specific issues that the coaches may have been dealing with that week,” Swaninger said.

“Coaching is a way to give back to the community,” Swaninger said. “Many people in our community have unique and tremendous experiences and skill sets. Working with our youth is one of the most fulfilling experiences out there.”

“Coaching is unique in that short of my [parents], I have learned more about life and leadership from my coaches than anyone else,” Swaninger said. “Coaches not only grow your skill set in whatever sport that you’re participating in, but they grow [students] into better leaders and better human beings.”

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – In Louisiana, football is more than just a game. It’s a way of life.

“Football has been my life,” NFL legend Doug Williams said.

Williams returned to Baton Rouge this week to host his annual youth football skills camp at Memorial Stadium.

The camp aims to teach more than just plays and drills. It’s about preparing young athletes for success both on and off the field.

“For me to get an opportunity to come back, not that I ever left, but to come back and do this, I think that’s part of my duty,” Doug Williams said.

Campers received hands-on training from former college and professional athletes, including Williams’ former players from his time coaching at Grambling State University.

Among them was Baton Rouge native Chad Williams, a former NFL wide receiver who played under Doug Williams in college. Chad Williams said the camp is about more than football.

“We come from a city that a lot of people might shun, but there’s a lot of love here in Baton Rouge. We want to capture as many kids as we can and show them there are other opportunities out there,” Chad Williams said.

The young athletes were taught valuable life lessons, such as teamwork, discipline, and the importance of hard work.

“It ain’t just about the game,” Doug Williams said. “There’s a lot more that comes with it.”

Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.

Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2025 WAFB. All rights reserved.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR) — Syracuse fans can now add on themed days to home games this year. The team releasing the various themed games for the 2025 season, including homecoming weekend where the Orange will host Pitt on October 18th.

The other promotions can be found below:
SEPT. 6 vs. UCONN
– Military Appreciation Day
– Youth Sports Day
– Cheer and Dance Day
– Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day

SEPT. 12 vs. COLGATE
– First Responders Day
– Healthcare Appreciation Day

SEPT. 27 vs. DUKE
– Family Weekend

OCT. 18 vs. PITT
– Orange Central Weekend
– Chamber of Commerce Day

OCT. 31 vs. NORTH CAROLINA
– Halloween

NOV. 29 vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
– School Day
– Scout Day

Pictured are the campers attending the Eisenhower Basketball Camp, led by three current Knights. In the back row, from left to right, are Rylan Benton, Austin Hanson and Derek Guiher.
Times Observer Photo

One of the nice things about sports is that it breaks down barriers and three Eisenhower boys basketball players worked at that very thing this past week when they hosted a basketball camp at the HUB in Russell for kids ranging from 1st through 7th grade.

Senior Derek Guiher and juniors Rylan Benton and Austin Hanson led a group of 28 players primarily from the Youngsville and Eisenhower attendance areas along with a few from Warren and Sheffield.

“It was grades 1-3 for 90 minutes in the morning and then grades 4-7 for 2.5 hours in the afternoon,” Eisenhower boys basketball coach Ryan Mangini stated. “It was mainly run by the players with the focus on having fun and working on the fundamentals of the game, it got competitive at the end of each session. I’m proud of all three of them, they worked really hard and seemed to enjoy leading.”

All three Eisenhower players earned all-region honors following last season — Benton with Youngsville, Guiher and Hanson with Eisenhower. The players set simple goals for the camp and hoped to get kids excited about their future in the sport.

“The goal was to make the kids better on the last day than they were on the first day of camp,” Benton said.

Eisenhower’s Derek Guiher helps campers through a drill.
Times Observer Photo

“We wanted to inspire the next generation of players,” Guiher added.

With the merger of Youngsville and Eisenhower, all three players are looking forward to next season together on the court.

“I am really excited for this season,” Guiher said. “It will provide new opportunities for our program and there is a lot of potential to be successful.”

“This camp helped us bond as teammates,” Benton said about the future.

With the trio of Benton, Guiher and Hanson, the Eisenhower basketball program is in good hands for the future.

“This camp is helping to ease the school transformation.” Guiher added, “I believe this will help smooth the merging of our schools just because the kids are getting to know each other on the court before school starts.”

As of this week, there are nine Warren County players listed on Pennsylvania’s roster for the Big 30 All-Star …

KYDC seminars

The Kinzua Youth Development Center will sponsor a Sport Development Camp scheduled for June 23-26 …

BAKER, La. (WAFB) – A nonprofit group has organized an upcoming basketball and cheer camp for young people in the Baton Rouge area.

The camp is being hosted by the Diontrey Claiborne Stop the Violence Organization and is taking place from Thursday, July 10, through Sunday, July 13, at the Advantage Charter Academy in Baker. The school is located at 14740 Plank Road.

Young people ages 7-18 can participate in the camp. Organizers said it is designed to build athletic skills, teamwork skills, leadership skills, and to provide a positive alternative to violence.

For more information and to register for the camp, click here.

The Diontrey Claiborne Stop the Violence Organization was founded in memory of Diontrey Claiborne, a teen whose life was taken away during gun violence. The nonprofit aims to promote awareness about the impact of violence and the importance of prevention and to implement strategies and activities that address the root causes of violence.

Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.

Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2025 WAFB. All rights reserved.