 Wayne Gallagher was Fenwick's girls' soccer coach from 1982 through 1992. The girls program started in 1981 and, in the second year, was in need of a coach.
Wayne heard about the opening and talked with Athletic Director Butch Rossi and, fortunately for Fenwick, he got the job. That first year was a challenge, off the field as well as on. They were in need of uniforms and equipment, as well as practice fields, since the lone available field on site was used for football practice. As was customary during those times at Fenwick, Wayne was able to find a way to get things done. While his first team finished with a 4-7-2 record, this would be Wayne's only losing season.
In his second year Wayne was able to lead the Falcons to an MML league championship with a 12-2-4 overall record. During his eleven seasons Wayne's teams won five MML championships and were District Runner-up in 1985, when there was only one division in Ohio for all size schools for girls soccer. His overall record was 136 wins, 48 losses, and 22 ties. The main ingredient of life that he taught and lived by was passed along to each of his teams and his players: God, Family, Soccer -- in that order!
A couple of memorable highlights for Wayne during his tenure were two trips to Tennessee to play against some of the top programs in the state. In fact, on the second trip the Falcons played against Franklin High School, the defending state champions, and the Falcons were able to rally from behind to pull off the upset. It was the first time that Franklin had ever lost on their home field.
Wayne is the proud father of six children: Melissa, Tracy, Kenny, Christopher, Brian, and Stephen. He has 24 grandchildren, five of whom are in heaven with their gradmother, Rita, Wayne's wife of 43 years.
Wayne has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on various projects and took part in the Extreme Makeover project in Middletown with New Covenent Church. |
