Four new coaches will lead Soaring Eagle teams

DRAPER — Juan Diego Catholic High School announced there will be four new coaches to lead Soaring Eagle teams this fall.

Ashlee McKray will coach girls basketball, Tara Henriksen will coach the girls volleyball, Alan James will lead both boys and girls golf teams, John Gavin will return to coach wrestling, and Lisa Dimond will coach cheer leading.

McKray has experience in both basketball and volleyball, after working with several local high school and club teams. She was most recently owner of the Sandy Shock Volleyball Club. She played basketball for Westminster College and Colorado Northwestern Community College.

Henriksen was a member of the University of Utah’s volleyball team. She also worked toward her doctorate in chemical engineering. With that combination, she has the knowledge to thrust more power into Juan Diego’s volleyball team. This will be her first experience as head coach, but she is gaining a vibrant team of seasoned members.

Gavin is returning to coach the Juan Diego wrestling team after taking a three-year break to follow his son’s career. Gavin started the wrestling program at Juan Diego in 1999, and in five years coached five region champion and two state champion teams.

Gavin graduated from, and wrestled for the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, where he also coached for seven years. He earned a Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix and serves as the sophomore class counselor at Juan Diego.

James, the head golf professional at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton, will coach the boys and girls golf teams. He was raised in Utah and is a graduate of Bingham High School. He has been in the golf business since 1968, and a member of the Professional Golf Association of America since 1989. He also coached little league baseball and football.

Dimond is the new head cheer leading coach for both Juan Diego and St. John the Baptist Middle Schools. She founded the middle school team six years ago, and worked periodically with Juan Diego’s sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity teams for six years. Her dance experience in high school and at Dixie College gives her a strong background in movement and performance. Dimond teaches religion, consumer studies, and performing art in the middle school, and is certified with the American Association of Cheer Leading Coaches and Administrators.