Yasmin Garrett
Yasmin Garrett never expected her path to lead her to field hockey. This year, she is the new head coach of the Berkeley High School girls varsity field hockey team. She is excited to see what is in store for the squad this season and is committed to supporting her players’ potential. “When I found out the team didn’t have a coach, I stepped in,” Garrett said, “I really love the sport, and I really love the team; they’re very enthusiastic about playing.”
Garrett’s path to the sport of field hockey was somewhat unconventional. Unlike many coaches who have been involved with their sport for years, she did not discover field hockey until she was an adult. “I took a class in Union City, and then I suited up and played each position until I really learned how to do it, and then I was able to coach it,” Garrett said.
This season, Garrett is taking an emphasis on player development, encouraging her players to hone in on the fundamental skills of ball carrying and receiving.
For Garrett, one of the best parts of coaching is to be able to foster a supportive environment. “It’s like being a part of a big family,” she said, “Everybody cheers on, cheers each other on, and they’re very supportive on and off the field.” Garrett hopes that the team will continue to grow in future years. “We need more field hockey players, and we need people to come and cheer us on. It makes us feel better. It makes us play better when we have people out in the stands,” Garrett said.
Annika Halverson
For Annika Halverson, one of three coaches leading the BHS cross country team this season, running is about so much more than competition. With years of experience as both a collegiate runner and coach under her belt, Halverson brings a strong passion for mentoring and supporting young athletes.
Halverson fell in love with running while living abroad in Tanzania during middle school. After returning to the United States in eighth grade, she turned to running as a way to connect with her new community, running as top varsity runner for the rest of her high school career. “There’s so much joy in running, and you can make friends with amazing people through this sport,” Halverson said. Halverson continued her running career into college, where she competed all four years.
Her passion for coaching began while working as a teacher for Teach For America at a middle school in Pueblo, Colorado, when she stepped in to fill in the vacant cross country coach role. “I really loved being able to give back to a sport that gave me so much and be able to impart knowledge and develop young runners in the same way that my coaches fostered a love of running for me,” Halverson said.
She describes the BHS cross country team as dedicated, talented, and full of kind, motivated students. “(As a coach) it’s extremely important to maintain an upbeat, positive attitude for the team, and to try to foster that in the team by modeling it and trying to bring a little bit of fun,” she said.
Tobi Stein
Tobi Stein is the assistant coach for BHS varsity girls crew in addition to being a BHS chemistry teacher. He was first introduced to rowing in college after being a runner in high school.
“I wanted to continue to do athletics in college, but I was kind of burnt out on running so I found rowing, which was also an endurance sport,” Stein said.
He appreciates the precision that goes into rowing, a fitting interest for someone with a background in science. With a teaching credential for both chemistry and physics, he is no stranger to the importance of small adjustments and precise movements.
After graduation, Stein became a teacher at BHS but still wanted to be involved in the rowing community. “(BHS) happens to be one of very few schools on the West Coast that actually has a rowing team, so I got in contact,” he said.
Stein’s coaching style focuses on precision and teamwork along with a commitment to individual growth. He encourages his athletes to pay close attention to their technique.
“I try my best to help my athletes identify how specifically to move their bodies and shift themselves so that they can make their contributions to the boat positive,” he said, “I want them to be stronger than they were before, and I want them to be more mature.”