Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
Few coaches finish their careers with a storybook ending, but that's exactly how
South Oldham (Crestwood, Ky.) girls soccer head coach Cy Tucker completed his 38 year coaching tenure. He led the Lady Dragons to their seventh state championship and the school's first ever MaxPreps Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
Coach Tucker's legacy and the Lady Dragons' season were both celebrated Wednesday evening, Jan. 21, before the girls basketball game as part of the 4th Annual MaxPreps Soccer Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard.
Coach Tucker has been coaching soccer since 1976, but in 1988 he came to South Oldham High School where he not only coached the boys team from 1988-1992, but he also started the first girls soccer team in the Louisville Metro area with the Lady Dragons in the spring of 1990. In 1993, he began his impressive run coaching the SOHS girls team exclusively, directing the Lady Dragons to numerous district and regional titles and wining seven state championships, including the only "4-Peat" in Kentucky girls soccer history, from 1998 through 2001.
"This is quite an honor," Tucker said. "To have MaxPreps and the Kentucky Army National Guard come to South Oldham to present this trophy in person to my team is definitely a highlight for me."
The Lady Dragons put together an unforgettable season in which they compiled a record of 23-4, finishing their championship run with a nine-game winning streak that included six shutouts and a total score of 33-4. The icing on the cake was a 4-1 victory over Owensboro Catholic in the KHSAA championship game.
Out of more than 10,000 girls soccer programs, the South Oldham team ranked No. 37 in the nation and is one of only 10 girls soccer programs being honored on this year's Tour of Champions.
"I'm a man of few words," stated Sergeant First class Bryan Reed of the Kentucky Army National Guard before handing over the prestigious trophy, "but what this team, under the leadership of Coach Tucker, did this year was quite impressive. The coach's commitment to the team and the team's commitment to each other makes it a real honor to present this award to this nationally ranked program."
SFC Reed then handed over the Army National Guard national ranking trophy while the nearly 1,000 students, parents and fans in attendance rose to their feet in appreciation.
Following the presentation, the coaching staff and the team took formal photos with the prestigious trophy and were interviewed by local media including WHAS. SFC Tucker distributed Tour of Champions commemorative shirts and cinch bags to the team as well. Excited about the honor, teammates and coaches took turns taking pictures with the prestigious trophy.
Congratulations to the Lady Dragons on a great season and national ranking and congratulations to Coach Tucker on a commendable legacy!
