By Andrew Coakley

FN Sports Editor

If experience means as much as many people claim that it does, then Terry Wildgoose is the right man for the job of Activities Director at the YMCA.

No, Terry is not experienced in that capacity, per se, but having grown up in the YMCA, and having been both an athlete and a coach for almost every core sport there is, Terry indeed has what it takes to take up the challenge.

"I began my coaching career at the YMCA," said Terry, during Wednesday's press conference.

"Before that I was fortunate enough to have been a very good athlete and I played just about every sport in the country.

"Secondly, I've been fortunate to have coached nationally and internationally, having coached basketball and soccer at the international level.

"I have experience in coaching kids and adults. But my real start has been at the YMCA, having spent all of my summers here.

"So, this is like coming back home for me, because I got my start here at the YMCA."

The announcement of Wildgoose's new job was made on Wednesday afternoon, during a press conference at the YMCA. On hand to congratulate Terry and welcome him on board were Karon Johnson, Executive Director at the YMCA; Daniel Williams, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the YMCA and Joseph Darville, also a board member for the YMCA.

Darville said that they received a number of applications for the post of Activities Director at the YMCA, but noted that they were highly impressed with Terry's résumé, and feels that they couldn't have chosen a better candidate than Wildgoose.

"As many Grand Bahamians are aware, the 'Y' was just about destroyed after three hurricanes in the last number of years," noted Darville.

"But under the able direction of our Executive Director, Karon Johnson, the YMCA has begun to come back powerfully.

"So, the next power player in that plank of re-growth, is the activities that will be enhanced by Terry's presence at the YMCA."

Known as a coach with the ability to work with both kids and adults, Terry says that he's looking forward to his new position at the YMCA.

"Terry is no stranger to the people of Grand Bahama, because he's been involved in the field of sports for a number of years, and that means he will be bringing a wealth of experience to the team," said Daniel Williams.

"The YMCA and the community on a whole will indeed benefit from that experience which Terry will be bringing to the table."

Wildgoose said that his immediate plans as the new Activities Director at the YMCA will be to leave in place the programs that have been working and then analyze those that may be falling behind.

"I don't think that we should mess with success," said Wildgoose. "The objective is just to make the 'Y' what it used to be. We want to bring it back to the days when the 'Y' was more of a family oriented place and not just some place to drop the kids.

"So, I want to review what we have. I have some ideas that I would like to see implemented, but it's too early to talk about anything new. I want to look at what we have now and go from there."

Karon Johnson said that she and Terry will sit and go over the programs that are already in place and talk about some of the ideas that he may want to see implemented at the 'Y'.

"We will brainstorm any new idea and see how we can come up with the funding for it," said Johnson.

"One of the primary concerns that arise when you talk about new programs is pricing. We don't want to put our rates to a place where only those who can afford is able to participate.

"We try to keep the rates as minimal as possible so that we can reach the wider community of Grand Bahama. But then it all goes back to funding and how desperately the YMCA needs it."

WELCOME HOME - YMCA Board Chairman, Daniel Williams (left) and YMCA Board member Joesph Darville (right) listen to newly appointed Activities Director, Terry Wildgoose (centre) talk about his growing up at the YMCA and having his first coaching experience there.

(Sports photo by Andrew Coakley)