Edwardsville has new girls basketball coach. She previously starred for the program
A leader both on and off the court as a player, Caty Ponce was a major contributor for an Edwardsville High School girls basketball program which has been among the best in Illinois for nearly two decades.
Now, nine years after playing her final game in a Tigers uniform, Ponce has earned the chance to help lead Edwardsville’s tradition of excellence on the basketball court once again. But in a totally different role.
Ponce, 26, has been named as the Tigers new head coach, taking over for Lori Blade, who resigned earlier this spring after leading Edwardsville to 510 wins and 17 regional championships in 18 years.
Ponce, a standout guard from 2007-11 before moving on to McKendree University where she was a member of both the Bearcats basketball and softball programs, has been an assistant coach at Edwardsville the past five years. She is well aware of the pressure of taking over one of the state’s top programs.
“I think whoever was coming in there (Edwardsville), there is going to be pressure at any point, whether it was after coach Blade or after that person. The city has very high expectations,” Ponce said. “But I think that goes for off the court as well.
“Obviously everybody wants to win. But I think one of the greatest things about coach Blade and (assistant coach) Donna Farley that helped the program was to help create and develop strong young women, along with their parents, who are able to go out, continue their educations, compete for jobs and go out and become successful in life.”
Ponce was officially hired Monday at the Edwardsville District #7 School Board meeting. Since graduating from McKendree in 2015, she has taught in the Edwardsville School District four years. She is currently a math teacher at Edwardsville High School.
And now she is the head girls basketball coach at one of the state’s top programs.
“I am extremely excited and super grateful for the opportunity of the administration believing in me and all the preparations that coaches Blade and Farley have done. I truly appreciate all the opportunities they have helped to give me,” Ponce said. “There is nothing better than being able to coach in your hometown. I live here, my family is here and I’m just so thankful to have such a great support system.”
Ponce being named as the new girls basketball coach was also good news for Tigers Athletic Director Alex Fox.
“We’re very excited to have Caty begin the next chapter of Lady Tiger basketball,” Fox said. “I have full confidence that she will continue the tradition of excellence.”
Blade, who remains as the Edwardsville softball coach, left the Tigers basketball program to Ponce in good shape. Ranked among the top four Class 4A teams in the state all season,. Edwardsville finished 27-2 last year, losing to O’Fallon in the sectional semifinals.
Bright future, what to expect from new coach
Edwardsville returns several players in 2020-21 from that team including highly-touted junior guard Sydney Harris. But what type of head coach will Ponce be as she starts what she hopes is a long and successful tenure with the Tigers?
“I think a lot of our success stems from the amount of work the kids have put in and the discipline they have had. I think a lot of the core values that have been in this program will remain in place and we’ll continue to support them,” Ponce said. “But I think a big reason for our success — and it’s been a true blessing — is that the players who came in before me, with me and after me have been willing to fight for each other. As a coach, you hope that never leaves the program.
“What type of coach will I be? I think we’ll figure that out as we go here. This is my first head coaching job. I don’t yell all the time and I’m detail oriented. But we’ll see as time goes on. I’m just anxious for when we can get everybody in here and get going.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
