Long time Medomak Valley coach George Gould, collected his 1000th career win on Friday at the Panthers’ Homecoming cross country meet. Gould has coached at Medomak Valley for 27 years. “Sometimes I think I bleed blue and gold,” Gould said, commenting on the school’s colors.
“To accomplish 1000 wins obviously takes longevity, talented athletes, and a strong program. Knowing George as I do, he would be the first to say he has been blessed with great kids all these years who worked extremely hard for him,” MVHS athletic director Matt Lash “He would be right to say that. However, George has dedicated himself to Medomak Valley athletics. His devotion to the cross country, track & field, and basketball programs (particularly the girls) goes unmatched. He is a tireless worker who uses the off-season to prepare his next sport’s training schedule. His training programs are as detailed as they come. He does a great job setting goals for his athletes. He has a plan he believes in and he sticks to it.”
This fall marks the 25th straight year Gould has coached boys’ and girls’ cross country. He also coached varsity girls’ basketball for 10 years, and boys’ and girls’ track and field. In that time, he has earned Coach of the Year honors 10 times and his teams have won nine KVAC titles, four Regional titles and a girls’ cross country State title. His team’s have been Regional or State runner-ups seven times.
He has collected 106 wins in girls’ basketball, 29 in boys’ track, 133 in girls’ track, 159 in boys’ cross country, and 569 in girls’ cross country. Gould needed four wins going into Friday’s home meet. The boys’ cross country team defeated three teams to pick up three wins, and the girls won their meet, picking up four more to boost Gould to 1003 career wins.
“It’s more a reflection of the kids than me,” a humble Gould said. Of the milestone, Gould added, “It’s more historical than anything else.”
“I could not have coached this long without my wife (Denise) and family. She has been like my assistant coach,” Gould said of Denise. His children Amy and Brett spent a lot of time growing up “riding their bikes around the track or bouncing a ball in the gym in the winter.”