The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters girls lacrosse players have got themselves a new head coach in Shelby Wilcox, who was just recently hired to fill the position. Wilcox brings lots of player experience and a deep knowledge of the game.

Wilcox grew up in Livermore, California, and started playing lacrosse in middle school. She went on to play four years on varsity at Grenada High School. Shelby played on defense all through middle school and her freshman year in high school, and then her final three years played at attack-mid. Wilcox went on to play one year at Utah Valley University on a club team.

During her varsity years, Shelby also played on a highly competitive team called Bear LAX, and had the opportunity to play against some of the most experienced clubs in the country, many of which were from the East Coast. Wilcox traveled with Bear LAX to tournaments all over the West Coast, including Colorado, New Mexico, and California.

Wilcox got married to her husband, Derek, in 2017 and they have been living in Central Oregon for the past two years. Shelby has been in search of a coaching position and first heard about the girls lacrosse coaching opening from Peggy Hogue, the LAX committee chair.

"Peggy reached out to me because I'd initially contacted Bend, and their coach sent my information to her," said Wilcox. "Following her recommendation, I interviewed with Chad Rush, recreation programs director at SPRD (who administers the lacrosse program)."

A couple days later, Shelby got a call from Rush, and was offered the job, which she readily accepted.

"This is my first coaching job and I'm super excited," said Wilcox. "Growing up, I watched my uncle coach and teach, and I gained a lot of respect for how integrated he was in the community and how everybody knew and respected him. When this opportunity came to me, he was the first thing that came to my mind, and I hope to be just like him and do the same thing."

Wilcox has moved a lot over the past years, and she told The Nugget that she and her husband "are really excited to plant some roots and integrate into the Sisters community."

Shelby shared with The Nugget where she plans to start.

"I'm excited to start building a level of trust and respect with the girls," said Wilcox. "I'm looking forward to assessing their abilities and seeing where we are as a program. I really want us to focus on the basics, because solid, basic LAX skills are a good place to start.

"I would love to see a larger integration between the youth programs at SPRD and at the high school," added Wilcox. "And, I'd love to give these girls the opportunity to consider a college opportunity with lacrosse."