Leader. Mother. Educator. These are the words used to describe the new head coach of the girls varsity basketball team, Kristen Perry. With 17 years of teaching experience under her belt, Perry is no stranger to saying yes to new opportunities. When former head coach Don Patterson retired after the 2012-2013 season, the Lady Wolves watched their assistant coach become their head coach.

“I am a strong leader with a love for children, a knack for inspiring athletes and an uncanny ability to connect with all those involved in the program,” Perry said. “I don’t think these are special qualities that only I possess – I believe that all good coaches have these.”

Perry and her husband, Murphy Middle School principal Dr. Brant Perry, have two children, Jordyn, 11, and Danica, 8, who are both heavily involved in sports.

“Our girls are involved competitively in basketball, soccer, golf and running,” Perry said. “With this being said, their education still takes priority and a higher degree is a goal we have for both of them. I am a firm believer in higher education.”

Coming from a long line of educators, it was not out of the ordinary for Perry to want to be a teacher. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a Master’s Degree in Education Administration, Perry began teaching in Plano at Robinson Middle School and then Shepton High School.

“Ten years ago, Kathy King, then principal at Shepton, had an administrative opening at the exact time Coach Patterson asked if I would move up to Junior Varsity with him at West,” Perry said. “I just couldn’t seem to leave the coach’s office, so here I am now with the whistle still around my neck.”

In fact, she loved the position so much, she has now been a basketball coach for 10 years and counting. Although she is a familiar face, having her in a new position will be a slight change to some of her players.

“Having her as the head is a bit different because she has been the mediator between us and Patterson,” junior Sydney Skinner said. “And although the program and the practices won’t change dramatically, she will definitely add her own direction.”

This year, Perry plans to lead the team with high expectations, intensity, effort and a running game.

“I am most looking forward to the thrill of competition, the rewarding feeling of success and the pure joy of watching young female athletes reach further beyond their expectations,” Perry said. “It’s worth all the challenges faced within that one season.”

Perry is not only a coach to the girls, but also a role model and inspirational leader.

“She is like a second mom and I trust her with anything,” Skinner said. “She inspires me to be competitive and committed to the game. She’s an amazing role model for not only me, but all the girls on the team.”

Perry’s vision for this year’s team will be to compete with class and character. She teaches these through conditioning routines and her ability to push the girls to their fullest potential.

“Coach has always known I can do better than I put out sometimes, and I think she just helps push me so that I can get better,” senior Tyara Warren said. “She has those intimidating workouts, but her speeches during and after them makes it so much better to get through. She wants it so much for us. It just makes me work harder so I don’t let her down.”

The girls look up to Perry for inspiration, but Perry looks down her family tree to her grandmother, Ruth Virginia Pritchard Baker, for hers.

“In high school, against her father’s wishes, she played basketball for the Mustangs,” Perry said. “She was feisty and believed a woman could be competitive on the court, but could act like a lady off the floor.”

Perry embodies the same traits her grandmother exemplified in order to become a respected and successful coach.

“As a coach and teacher, I attempt to model these qualities on a daily basis for my athletes,” Perry said. “Success then becomes not what I have been given nor what I achieve, but what I can give back.”