Kerby new Lady Dolphin soccer coach
Simon becomes asst soccer, softball coach at Navarre
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Kerby

Sharon Kerby, a fourth grade teacher at West Navarre Intermediate School, became the new Lady Dolphin soccer coach Thursday.

She takes over for Eric Miles, who after taking the Lady Dolphins to the 2A state champi- onship game in February, accepted a teaching position at the Community School in Naples.

"I'm just very excited for just being considered for the position, much less getting it," said Kerby, who played collegiately at the University of West Florida, graduating in 2006.

Kerby, 24, is originally from South Medford, N.J., where she also played basketball. An All Gulf South Conference performer as a goalkeeper, Kerby's 1.63 goals against average over her freshman and sophomore years was second best in school history.

As a sophomore, Kerby was the junior varsity coach at West Florida Tech. After not coaching during her junior year, Kerby was the head coach at Woodham her senior season. She is beginning her second year of teaching fourth graders at WNI.

Kerby was one of five candidates that were interviewed, which included assistant coach Rob Simon.

"I made a decision as far as the soccer team goes and we selected Sharon Kerby as a fresh start," GBHS Principal Sylvan Ladner said. "Hopefully, she can get us back to the state championship," Ladner said.

Simon has since taken a science teaching job at Navarre High School, where he will also be the assistant boys soccer coach under former GBHS Dolphin B.J. Price and the assistant softball coach under Lowris Joyner.

"I've been in the Gulf Breeze community for a long time. I'm very sad to be leaving it," Simon said.

Kerby inherits a team with 19 out of 22 returning players from last year's squad that lost to Orlando's Bishop Moore High School in the state title game.

In addition to getting to coach one of the best programs in the state, Kerby's also getting one of the brightest. Gulf Breeze High recently earned its third consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Team Academic Award for the third consecutive year - the only school in the state that can boast such a feat.

Miles update - Miles has recently added Assistant Middle School soccer coach to his title at The Community School. He'll become the varsity boys coach the following season.