- November 4, 2024
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Four years ago, Mindi Scala-Sanders was an assistant softball coach at Matanzas, under Sara Novak. Now, after coaching in Connecticut, she has returned to Palm Coast, only to take head coaching position at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Matanzas’ crosstown rival.
Scala-Sanders brings a long list of coaching experience with her, seeing that she has been coaching travel softball for years, coaching at St. Joes and Southern Connecticut State University, among other assistant opportunities. Before coaching, Scala-Sanders played softball in high school and college, which she believes gives her a different perspective about players that helps her to be a better coach.
“Because I’ve played and coached softball for a number of years, I understand and know what the girls need as a coach,” Scala-Sanders said. “I know how to break down their swing, throws, etc., and I even know exactly how they walk, so I am able to get them to do whatever they want to do on the field.”
Scala-Sanders has coached some of her players on a travel team, when they were younger, so she already has some familiarity with the team. She’s also FPC’s physical fitness teacher, which has afforded her time to get to know some of her players.
“Because I’m a teacher, I have a great desire to see my players succeed in the classroom,” she said. “They know that they can come to me for anything, and I’ll help them. Nothing has felt better, for me, than seeing some of the kids that I coached when they were younger play at colleges, and it begins in the classroom. I always tell them that if they’re successful in there first, then they can be successful at any area in life.”
Scala-Sanders said that she learned a great deal from her good friend and fellow coach, Novak, while under her at Matanzas. She credits her with showing her how to have good communication with the players, building up a successful program and treating the players like they are all important.
“I can’t speak any more highly of her about what she’s been able to do at Matanzas,” Scala-Sanders said. “She’s done a great job. We’ll have a good time playing each other this year.”
Novak, on her former assistant coach getting the head position at the rival school, said, “I am very happy that Mindi is back in town as my good friend and a coach. I respect her a lot, and I am here to help her, if she needs. I wish her the best of luck with her new program.”
In terms of a potential rivalry, Novak dismissed the notion, stating that FPC isn’t in the same conference or district with Matanzas.
“I'm hoping that with her over at FPC, we can get away from the rivalry issues and just be positive and supportive about the success we have with our teams,” Novak added.
Scala-Sanders and Novak coach a travel team together, which is filled with girls from Matanzas and FPC. While the teams have separated and will face off in the spring for their respected schools, both coaches believe they will compete in the spirit of friendship rather than heated rivals.
“Since our girls played this summer together, they really came together, I can see us routing for each other more than hoping for the other to lose,” Novak said.
"It will be a good game between the two teams,” Scala-Sanders added. “We’re going to have a lot of fun, and it will be friendly comradery.”
