Crow flies the coop: Plano East head coach leaving the program

One month ago, Plano East hired a new boys basketball coach.

Now, the Panthers are searching for a new girls soccer coach as Dawn Crow has put in her resignation.

"It's a big deal for me to make this decision," Crow said. "It takes a lot to get a coach to stop coaching."

Crow broke the news to her players Friday afternoon.

"You want to trust your gut and it seemed like the right time," Crow said. "Will there be other opportunities to coach later on? Yeah, maybe, but I want to make sure I'm in a position where there's still value there.

"You always want to be in a situation where you are appreciated."

Crow's departure severs a lengthy Plano ISD tie.

Crow played soccer for Plano Senior in 1990 and 1991, advancing to state in the latter season and being named an NSCAA High School All-American. Crow was also deemed one of the best girls soccer players of the century by the UIL during its Centennial Celebration.

"Dawn has an undeniable passion for the sport and her accolades are a great tribute to the game of soccer," said Diane Davey, Plano girls soccer head coach. "It seems like just yesterday Dawn was lighting up the scoreboard while playing at Plano."

Crow continued to pound the pitch in college, winning four NCAA Championships at North Carolina. After coaching collegiately, Crow made her way back to the Metroplex and eventually East, where she took over in 2008.

"It wasn't Plano," Crow said, "but it was in PISD and that's where I wanted to be."

When Crow joined East, the Lady Panthers were the only one of the six PISD varsity soccer programs without a state tournament appearance and initial projections weren't promising as Crow inherited a team that had lost in the first round of the playoffs a year prior.

"Not much was expected from us," Crow said. "But I thought, 'Why can't East win a state title? Why not us'"

What happened next was one of the more improbable runs in PISD soccer history as East became co-district champions and eventually advanced to the Class 5A State Tournament.

"We got the girls to believe in what they were capable of and when you can do that it boosts the girls' confidence and makes a huge difference," Crow said. "We got the girls to change how they feel about themselves and about this school. And for the first time, there was buzz throughout the school about girls soccer."

The culture change started at the top.

"I ask the girls to be on time and be prepared, just like how I am in the classroom," Crow said. "I would never ask the girls to do something I wouldn't do."

That led to not only a state appearance, but the first state tournament victory for an East boys or girls soccer team as the Lady Panthers defeated Houston Clear Lake, 2-0, in the 2008 Class 5A State Semifinals. The Lady Panthers' unlikely run came to an end two days later with a 2-1 finals loss to Southlake Carroll.

East won a district title again in 2009.

There wouldn't be another lengthy playoff run though as the Lady Panthers lost to Flower Mound Marcus in the area round.

"I wasn't disappointed with what happened on the field that year; I mean, we won two straight district titles, how can you be disappointed in that," Crow said. "What was disappointing was I felt like we didn't do the same things that got us there the year before. We saw what it would take, so why not do it again?"

That was the final playoff appearance under Crow as the last three seasons have been marred by either a lack of a true goalkeeper or a youthful roster."

That kept the Lady Panthers out of the playoffs, but could pay off for the next coach.

"Whoever comes in, we are certainly not leaving the cupboard bare," Crow said. "We have 92 percent of our goal scoring coming back next season."

Crow is still teaching at East, an opportunity she is thankful for, but won't be coaching there any longer.

"There will definitely be things I'll miss," Crow said. "Coaches like [Softball head coach Karen Kalhoefer] and [girls basketball head coach LaGwenna Morrow] were always so helpful. Your team, my team, it didn't matter; they were interested in the whole East program and not just their kids, so I'll definitely miss that."

That feeling is mutual.

"Dawn is a great coach with a ton of experience," Kalhoefer said. "She really established a great program and I'm sad to see her go."

Crow's colleagues shared similar words.

"Dawn is such a wonderful personality on and off the field," said Carley Phillips, West girls soccer head coach. "She knows the game so well and has such a high level of soccer intelligence too; I'll miss her."

Davey concurred.

"Dawn's departure will deeply affect the Plano East soccer players," she said. "I know how much coaching means to her and the longer I am in coaching the more I realize how much coaching means to all of us. Dawn changed lives daily and held her athletes accountable. She will be missed by many high school coaches, but will continue to lead and instruct young people.

"And I know her impact will extend far beyond the soccer field."

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