Girls Track Coach of the Year: Ryan Crane

Entering the season as the top-ranked girls track and field team in the county, third-year Dana Hills coach Ryan Crane was confident his squad could build off the season it enjoyed in 2008.

“Though we lost a couple girls, we were returning the top distance team in the state and I definitely expected us to do well,” he said.

Crane led a Dolphins team composed primarily of sophomores and juniors to another strong season, one in which they were the county’s top team from start to finish. Along the way, the Dolphins developed into one of Southern California’s best squads.

For his leadership, Crane has been selected the Register’s 2009 Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.

“As a coach, I always feel pressure because I always want our kids to do well,” he said. “This season, the kids seemed pretty relaxed and confident.”

That approach helped fuel an impressive campaign that saw the Dolphins go undefeated in duel meets and win team titles at both the Orange County Championships and the South Coast League Finals for the second consecutive season.

Though Crane credited a number of athletes that contributed to the teams’ success, he highlighted the efforts of multi-talented junior Kimmie Conner as the difference-maker for the team.

“She competed in four different events throughout the season and scored a lot of points for us,” he said. “She set the bar and carried us when we had some injuries.”

Crane also acknowledged the work of his assistants as a big asset into building the Dolphins program into a power.

“We have eight coaches who have been there six years or more,” he said. “If we keep them around, I feel that our success will continue to be there.

Crane paid respect to rival and retiring Mission Viejo head coaching icon Fred Almond, who established a winning standard in the South Coast League and served as a success model for Crane and his Dolphin team.

“Coach (Fred) Almond was the bar and helped propel this program to a high level,” he said.
 

Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com