There’s been a change of the guard at a few prep sports programs this fall.
At Dos Pueblos, cross country coach Leslie Wiggins Roth has left the coaching and teaching ranks to pursue a career in nursing. A mother of three young boys, the new career will allow her more time with the family. Her husband, Brian “Chuckie” Roth, is a teacher and aquatics coach at San Marcos High, the aquatics coach at SBCC and a club water polo coach.
Kyle Visin
Bob Wilcher
Bob Wilcher and Kyle Visin are the new cross country coaches at DP. They are co-owners of Killer B Fitness training center.
Wiggins Roth coached some outstanding student-athletes at DP, with many of them moving on to college. Among the standouts is Addi Zerrenner, who received an athletic scholarship to Arizona.
Zerrenner qualified for the CIF State Meet in cross country and track. She finished second in the state in cross country and third in the 3200 at the state track and field finals. The DP boys cross country team placed third at the State Meet last year.
“Leslie was great to work with,” said assistant Micks Purnell. “She was also very gracious to let me have the lead with the boys and Addi last season. Worked out well, I think.”
“She was a special part of the DPHS teaching and coaching staff, and will be truly missed,” DP Athletic Director Dan Feldhaus said of Wiggins Roth. “We are thankful for her years of service to the students of Dos Pueblos High School and we are excited for her and Chuckie in this new season of family life and celebrate with Leslie as she embarks on a new career.”
Three new coaches take the reins of fall sports teams at Carpinteria High. Steve Benzin takes over the girls golf program from Chris Gahan; Dino Garcia replaces Marc Denitz as the girls volleyball coach and Matt Organista is in charge of the boys water polo team after Bryan Swarm left to accept a position at El Dorado High in Orange County.
Trevor Thorpe replaces Barbara DeGroot as the Cate girls tennis coach. Thorpe was the assistant under DeGroot for the past five years. She is now working at USC — her alma mater — as a special assistant.
This winter, Chris Hantgin returns to coaching as he takes over the girls basketball team at San Marcos. Landon Boucher is the new boys basketball coach for the Royals.
