Steve Stuart

When one thinks of a coach, an 18-year-old senior in high school usually doesnt spring to mind.

But upon meeting Plano's Erin McGehee, it clear shes taken on that role in every sense of the word.

McGehee, a senior at Plano Senior High School, is the head coach for the Extreme, an under-10 girls soccer team she originally joined as an assistant coach when the squad needed guidance. But after the head coach was forced to leave last year, McGehee tackled the challenge with the confidence she uses in her numerous other endeavors.

Not only does McGehee coach the Extreme, she plays stopper on the PSHS varsity girls soccer squad and on the Andromeda club team. Pile those responsibilities on with her involvement in a church youth group, membership in FCA and FTA, her Monday through Thursday responsibility as a student teacher at Mathews Elementary and acting as surrogate mom and chauffeur for three younger siblings, and one wonders how she keeps her roles straight.

I have a huge spiral notebook that I keep my life in, she said. And, luckily, school and club soccer dont coincide, plus my mom helps me out with my coaching. But what keeps me going is seeing the kids faces light up at practice and in games. When I see them doing the things Ive taught them on the field, it makes me feel really good.

McGehee, who plans to attend Baylor in the fall with plans of becoming a teacher, enjoys all these responsibilities, but its her coaching role where she truly thrives.

When I got the opportunity to coach the team, I jumped on it, she said. Ever since I was a little girls, I wanted to coach. I've always been very involved with kids.

McGehee credits much of her coaching knowledge to her current coach, Dr. David Hildedrand. She learns proper soccer techniques from him to improve her game, while at the same time picking up pointers on how to better instruct her own students.

I watch how he leads and I watch his organization of practice and his patience with us, she said. Then I'll go to practice and apply that to my girls.

Although many would think a senior in high school doesn't have the experience necessary to coach, McGehee believes that is one of her greatest assets when dealing with her students.

I see them almost every day when I go to Matthews and they see me in the halls and say hi, she said. They always give me little surprises and tell me personal stuff. I think that because I'm not an adult, thats it's good because I can relate to them and I can remember exactly what they are going.