Last week, Willie Powers announced his retirement from Blue Wave Athletics. This week he was officially introduced as the new girls basketball coach at Williston High School.
“This is an awesome situation because Coach Powers brings a lot of experience,” said Williston girls athletics director Denver Ripley. “He is a coach that is going to be very hands-on with how his student-athletes are performing in the classroom. That is something he prides himself on. We are excited to have him come in and give our girls the chance to do what the men’s program is doing.”
P.K. Yonge Athletics Director Valerie Flournoy said that “stepping down was not the right way to put it” last week after Powers served 21 years.
“It’s a needle we are threading,” Flournoy said. “It was a way to close out the chapter as a Blue Wave alum and coach.”
While he will be missed on the sidelines next season at PKY, Flournoy had high words of praise for the outgoing coach.
“There are not many names as synonymous with the Blue Wave as Coach Willie Powers and no amount of words that could capture his impact on the program,” she said last week. “We will personally and professionally miss having Willie at P.K. Yonge as a coach but look forward to honoring his legacy.”
Powers, who will remain at P.K. Yonge through the end of May, said he’s been rejuvenated, and he’s excited about continuing to coach at the high school level again.
“Sometimes new beginnings help fire you up for a position when you’ve been at a place for so long,” Powers said. “Sometimes you’ve done all you can do, and I think I was at that point here (PKY). I’m definitely going to miss my PK family but it’s an opportunity as I end my career.”
He served two stints at his alma mater, from 2003-2008, which included a state runner-up finish, and he returned in 2010 to lead P.K. Yonge to the Class 2A state title with a 63-36 win against Community School (Naples).
Powers followed that up with another state championship two years later in 2012, which culminated in a 58-43 win against Parkway (Miramar) to win the Class 3A state title.
“His resume speaks for itself,” Ripley said. “Being able to bring a coach in who wants to instill leadership qualities in our student-athletes is a can’t miss opportunity. Along with his success that he has had at this level for a long time. Two state titles, six final four appearances and 19 district championships show consistency and a coach that is able to produce year in and out.
“Coach Powers has a lot of contacts in the college world as well that will help our student-athletes have a chance to live out their dreams of getting a higher education and playing at the next level. We are excited for Coach Powers to get on campus and hit the ground running.”
He takes over a Williston program that finished 11-12 in 2023-24 but qualified for the state playoffs.
The Lady Red Devils lost by two at Trenton, 48-46, in the 1A-District 7 semifinals, and they lost by one to the Tigers, 47-46, in the 1A-Region 4 Semifinals.
Guard/Forward Kaelynn Brown made the Bosshardt Realty All Area first team this past season as an eighth grader, while Kierce Solomon (eighth grade), Janiyah Span (seventh grade), and Delecia Dallas (freshman) were honorable mention selections.
Brown, who was the youngest player to make the All Area team, led the Lady Red Devils with 12 points, three assists and two steals per game.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Powers said. “I’m walking into a situation where they’re young, energetic and passionate about the game of basketball.”
After coaching at the Class 3A level, he’s embraced the opportunity to coach at the smallest classification. “I mean 1A coaching is no different than 3A,” Powers said. “You’ve got juggernauts like Wildwood and Hawthorne, so basketball and girls basketball there’s not really any difference in 1, 2 and 3A.”