Young Poplar Bluff coach has prepared well for this chapter of her career

First-time girl’s basketball coach Soley Dugas continues the quest for the initial victory over her young career today, but the Poplar Bluff High School educator has done everything in her power to prepare herself for success up to this point in her young life.

Dugas will guide the Mules (0-2) against host New Madrid County Central (0-2) today at 5:30 p.m. in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed game to open the SEMO Girl’s Basketball Tournament at New Madrid.

“I am energetic,” Dugas said of her coaching style and personality. “I’ve coached in the past, but I was an assistant. This being my first season (as a head coach), I’m still trying to figure out exactly what kind of direction I want to go and how I want to do things.”

The 2015 Poplar Bluff graduate has her inexperienced team playing competitively already this winter. The Mules dropped a nine-point decision against West County recently, which was followed up by a three-point loss at Scott County Central.

“A lot of this is trial and error,” Dugas said. “But I try to be energetic and positive. I just try to motivate the girls.”

Following her playing career with the Mules, Dugas attended NCAA Division II Missouri Southern in Joplin on a track and field scholarship, but the former point guard also spent time as a walk-on with the women’s basketball program.

She was injured late in her career and closed out her time in Joplin working under both the track and field, as well as basketball coaching staffs to prepare her for her future career.

“My college coaches knew that I wanted to coach,” Dugas explained, “and they put me in positions to help. My goal was to compete, but I still got to keep my scholarship in those other roles.

“I feel like doing the behind-the-scenes stuff really helped prepare me for coaching.”

She served as an assistant with the Mules two seasons ago in both basketball and track and field but took time off from basketball to earn her master’s degree from Missouri Southern, as well as have a child.

Though young, she believes her youth can serve “instead of a hindrance, it is a benefit.”

“I can relate to these girls,” Dugas said. “It wasn’t long ago that I was in their shoes.

“I think that they appreciate that.”

Success within Poplar Bluff athletics is always strived for, and Dugas understands that as well as anyone. However, she also said that she is going to emphasize having a positive experience overall with her student-athletes.

“Sometimes,” Dugas said, “when people get older, you can get removed from what it feels like to be a kid in just trying to learn and enjoy and ultimately, play a game.

“Sometimes, people can get caught up in the wins and losses and forget that.”

Dugas expressed deep gratitude for the Mule coaches who have played a significant role in her development as a person and educator, and she hopes to have a similar influence on the next generation of Poplar Bluff track and field and basketball players.

“I am thankful that I had great coaches at Poplar Bluff,” Dugas said. “I am going to use a lot of what I learned and what I experienced and try to incorporate that into my coaching style.

“Being an athlete at Poplar Bluff has made me who I am, and it has made me the coach that I am.”

Following the Mules vs. Eagle contest, No. 3-seed Saxony Lutheran (1-0) will face No. 6-seed Dexter at 7 p.m. today, which will be followed by No. 2-seed Jackson (1-0) playing No. 7-seed Sikeston (0-2) at 8:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, top-seed Notre Dame will play the winner of the Poplar Bluff vs. New Madrid game at 5:30 p.m., which will be followed by No. 4-seed Cape Central (0-1) facing No. 5-seed Kennett at 7 p.m.