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| Windham High varsity soccer seniors congratulate their coach, Deb Lebel, for earning her 200th victory. From left are, Kylie Garrison, Elizabeth Talbot, Abbey Thornton, Coach Deb Lebel, Reilly Russell, Elizabeth Levesque, and Ashley Clark. Lebel reached the milestone on Saturday, Sept. 3 when Windham defeated Westbrook. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel has been coaching at Windham since 2011 and on Sept. 3 in Windham’s opening game, Lebel earned her 200th career win with a 10-0 victory over Westbrook.
Her varsity coaching career began at Falmouth in 2005 and over the years she has accomplished a lot, including being honored with a plaque marking her milestone accomplishment on Thursday, Sept. 8 at Windham.
She is a six-time state championship winner which includes Windham wins in 2013, 2014 and 2021. She won three state championships while at Falmouth and was honored as the Southern Maine Activities Association Maine Coach of the Year and New England Coach of the Year in 2021.
For someone who is so successful, Lebel is very humble and said she wasn’t focused on the number of wins she had going into the Westbrook game, it’s family that comes first for her.
“These 200 wins I feel I’ve been blessed with a ton of talent,” said Lebel. “At Falmouth I felt like this gift had been dropped in my lap. I think that in the 2013 and 2014 years [at Windham], I wouldn't have been successful if they hadn't won states. They were just so talented. This is a tiny bit me, but so much of them.”
She also credits the dedicated parents who got their kids interested in soccer early and stuck with them, helping them develop a skill set and keeping them excited about the game. Those players eventually become varsity players.
In 2005, Lebel came to Windham where she began teaching biology. She accepted her first varsity coaching position as the girls’ soccer coach at Falmouth High School where she coached for four years.
In 2009, she left Falmouth and began coaching girls’ lacrosse at Windham until 2013. In 2011, she started coaching varsity girls’ soccer in Windham.
Lebel learned from other people who had been successful. Falmouth junior varsity girls’ soccer coach Cooper Higgins taught her the importance of making sure the kids have fun at all costs. Falmouth’s varsity boys’ soccer coach Dave Halligan was a huge role model and mentor to her when she first started at Falmouth. She says she also learned a ton from her assistant varsity coach Jim Stewart about getting players motivated and connecting with every single player.
“She definitely cares about us, she cares about the team,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer senior Ashley Clark. “She cares about our success. She’s so positive - just wants the best for us.”
Windham girls’ varsity senior Liz Levesque said Lebel trusts the team will do their best. Lebel has given Levesque self-confidence.
Both Clark and Levesque said Lebel is very driven. For them, getting that season opener win felt good.
“Deb is a very good game manger. She has an agility to manage the players, read the flow of the game and effectiveness of the players,” said Windham varsity girls’ assistant soccer coach Jim Stewart. “Deb values the players and cares about them as persons as well as soccer players. Making sure they take care of themselves physically, mentally and academically. I think the effort she puts into this has had a big impact on her success.”
Stewart said Lebel understands the entire meaning of a student athlete and works very hard to make that experience one that can be beneficial long after they stop playing soccer.
Lebel credits an enormous support system of teachers, friends and family that helped her reach 200 wins. Windham’s Jennifer Dunn and Beth Bubier played big roles in helping her juggle everything.
According to Lebel, her children are her top priority. She said she wants them to have a positive athletic experience with their sports, but it’s also important to her that they see her as a strong female role model to both students and players.
Gorham varsity girls’ soccer coach Jeanne Zarrilli has become a friend and mentor to Lebel. Thornton Academy’s Natalie Sharland is another example of a coach balancing motherhood, teaching and coaching. Sharland and Lebel have talked about how challenging this can be.
“We need more female coaches,” said Lebel. “And that's one of the reasons I feel like I stick it out. I feel like that connection, gives [her team] something to see – oh, I can do this. I want them to know that's a possibility. You can still have the family – it doesn’t have to be one or the other.”
This year Lebel said she would like to repeat last year’s state championship win. She thinks the team can come together, and it could be a really special season ahead.
“As long as the passion is still there and there is still a spark and kids are fun and make you want to come, then I'll be here,” said Lebel. <
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