Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 18-24, 2021 UCW 11 New coach brings experience and heart to women's basketball at Fayetteville Technical Community College by DR. SHANESSA FENNER Coaches play a pivotal role in the lives of their players and they carry the huge respon- sibility of having to develop them as indi- viduals and athletes. Peace Shepard Easton is qualified, willing, and more than ready for this responsibility and challenge as the new coach for Fayetteville Tech's women's bas- ketball. Her extensive background began with her start in playing recreational basketball in her elementary years. During her middle and high school years, she played basketball, ran track and participated in volleyball. Volley- ball was one of her top sports and she was also good in track and field with the triple jump, high jump, long jump and 4x400 relay. Easton excelled in all three sports and graduated from Swansboro High School in 1993. She attended basketball camps and was recruited by several colleges in the ACC. Easton attended N. C. State where she played for Coach Kay Yow. In her senior year, Eaton helped the Wolfpack make it to the NCAA Final Four. She also played profes- sional basketball after college overseas in Italy, Brazil, Honduras, Ecuador, Finland and Greece. Her awards include Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame inductee, MVP, numerous state championships, state playoffs and more. Easton was previously the coach of Holly Springs High School for seven years. While there, Easton racked up 100 wins and earned conference coach of the year honors three times and lead the program to four confer- ence chanpionships and five state playoffs. With having the substantial experience of more than thirty-something years of coach- ing and playing basketball FTCC Athletic Director Dr. Shannon Yates gave Easton the opportunity to lead the Trojans. "I am looking forward to being their in- fluencer, coach, big sister and mentor," said Easton. "By having been a high school student, a college basketball player, a professional basketball player, and a coach, I don't have all the answers, but I can at least guide the ladies in the right direction to do the right thing because I have been through it." She added, "I understand the struggles of being a high school basketball player from a small town trying to be noticed." Easton had a life changing experience dur- ing her childhood. "My father had a stroke when I was in the 8th grade so I was living in a home where my mom took care of my dad," said Easton. "He is paralyzed on his right side, can't talk, and nothing has changed besides he has gotten older and has become more dependent on my mom who has been the best wife that any husband could actually have." "People didn't know that I have always assisted her in the background and a lot of people did not know that I had all of this go- ing on in the spotlight with basketball," said Easton. "ey never knew that I was coming home to a mother who was taking care of my fa- ther, showed me how to make lemons out of lemonade, and she is my biggest influencer." Coach Easton earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and spends time working in health services. "At the moment I have worked for five years with UNC and I have been working with Medicare claims," said Easton. "So basically I assist providers as far as getting their claims paid in regards to if it is going to be covered by Medicare, the patient, or hospice." Easton added that she has been in health care since she graduated from high school and started out at Sigma. Coach Easton has great plans for Fayetteville Technical Community College's Women's basketball team. "I just want to make a difference as far as trying to get kids to the next step and using my background, connections and networks that I have created in the past," said Easton. "I made a lot of relationships and I want to take advantage of that because there are a lot of people that I know who are college coach- es in any realm of Division I, II and III." She added, "I want to take those relation- ships and help make the lives better for my athletes." When asked what is the one thing that people would be surprised to know about her, she responded, "ey would be sur- prised to know that I am very shy and I don't like public speaking or being in the spotlight, but there is something about when I get on the court and start coaching, it just leaves me," said Easton. "ere is no fear at all and I am in my element at that time, but I like for someone else to do the speaking and I will tell them thanks for doing a great job." As far as beginning her first season at FTCC, Easton was quick to share her thoughts: "I am very proud and excited to be given the opportunity in the college world to coach," said Easton. "It has always been a dream of mine." FTCC women's basketball will hold tryouts for students who are enrolled full-time on Aug. 27 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. Tryouts will be held at Horace Sisk Gym- nasium on Fayetteville Tech's campus. FTCC women's basketball is a varsity level pro- gram. Student-atheletes must be enrolled full time (12 hours or more) and must meet National Junior College Athletic Association eligibility requirements. Tryouts are not open to students signed to a Letter of Intent. For more information contact Coach Easton via email at eastonp@ faytechcc.edu. Peace Shepard Easton brings decades of experience to her role as head coach of FTCC's women's basketball. (Photos courtesy Fayetteville Technical Community College) COVER DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Principal, WT Brown Elementary School. 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