The Windham High varsity softball team will welcome new coach Darcey Gardiner this spring. Gardiner, a 2006 Windham graduate, brings a world of experience to the field as she was a three-sport athlete in high school and a two-sport athlete in college. She began coaching in 2007 in Windham with varsity and middle school softball and middle school basketball.
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| Darcey Gardiner will lead the Windham High School varsity softball team as its coach this season. Growing up in Windham , she played Little League softball here and went on to play in college before becoming a coach. PHOTO BY STACEY WEBSTER |
“I can remember right from the beginning I thought she was legit,” said Gray New-Gloucester junior Maisie Lerette. “She was dedicated to making softball a bigger deal here at GNG. Not only was Darcey a great coach but we all could go to her about anything. She made time for us no matter how busy her day was. I know she will bring more than a great softball coach to the Windham team; she will bring an amazing friend and role model for each and every player. Darcey will be great for Windham, and I can't wait to see what she puts together this year.”
The Gardiner family is a big baseball family. Gardiner’s grandfather and father were both baseball coaches and her father coached Gardiner through Little league.
Sports are a huge part of her life. Gardiner loves sports because of how creative they allow you to be while still giving you a competitive, family-like atmosphere.
“I always knew I wanted to coach sports in my hometown someday,” said Gardiner. “I grew up playing Windham Little League, going to varsity games on the old field and was lucky enough to be the first to play on the new field. Windham sports are home to me.”
Her parents drove Gardiner’s passion for sports. She played soccer, basketball and softball in high school and basketball and softball in college. To this day, she continues to play those sports.
“Between loving sports, my desire to be a positive female leader, and my passion for working with the youth has driven me to a love of coaching. Wanting to be back in Windham is a no-brainer for me,” said Gardiner. “To be able to gain the trust of your athletes and their families is something special that creates life-long bonds and that is something I really cherish when it comes to coaching.”
For Gardiner, her favorite part of being a coach are the relationships. The coaches, players and families she’s met along the way is something she treasures.
It doesn’t go unnoticed that a parent will hand their child over to a coach for a season of hard work and life lessons. This is something Gardiner learned very quickly to not take for granted.
"Having coached the fourth-grade boys basketball team with Darcey, I can say she is firm but approachable and fun,” said Windham Youth Basketball coach Ben Delewski. “Her passion for coaching is obvious and the boys can’t help but listen to her because she has a strong presence and voice.”
Gardiner has worked in recreation for 16 years. She began in South Portland and now works in Auburn as a Recreation Coordinator. She lives in Windham on her family’s dairy farm with her husband and 1 ½-year-old daughter. The animals keep her busy, traveling around New England fairs in the summer and fall with their sheep and coaching basketball in the winter.<
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