NEW CONCORD — Ask veteran head coach Clay Wilkins what has fueled John Glenn girls soccer transformation from an upstart program into a perennial Muskingum Valley League powerhouse, and he won't bring up tactical schemes or scoring records. Instead, he points to an uncompromising program culture built on three core pillars: Teamwork, attitude, and effort. Now entering his 24th season leading the Muskies — a tenure featuring over 200 victories, six MVL titles, and three district championship banners to earn OHSAA regional appearances — Wilkins' expectations for anyone wearing the John Glenn jersey remain razor-sharp. "Players who are resistant to working hard or are too focused on themselves and not the team typically do not last long in our program," Wilkins said. That blue-collar, team-first philosophy has been the bedrock in New Concord since Day 1, long before the championship hardware began piling up. "My initial vision for the Lady Muskies' soccer program was for us to be a team that would always work hard and play hard," Wilkins said. "I wanted us to compete with the better teams in the area. This was before we even had enough teams in the MVL to compete for a league championship." Program stability and high expectations That longevity and clear vision haven't gone unnoticed by school administration. For John Glenn Athletic Director Michael Dunlap, Wilkins' dual presence in the classroom and on the pitch has provided rare consistency in high school sports. "Program stability is something that is difficult at the high school level," Dunlap said. "With Coach Wilkins teaching and coaching in the district now for over 25 years, that has been a big contributor to the success of our girls soccer program. Coach Wilkins has done a great job of building a program, not just a team. He has high expectations, and that carries down to his players and their expectations for themselves and their teammates." Unselfish soccer: The three-pillar philosophy While roster names and opponent lineups have naturally shifted over two decades, Wilkins credits the program's sustained excellence to that same non-negotiable standard established at his very first practice session. "Teamwork — passing and combination play have been a focal point for years," Wilkins said. "I have not had much interest in 'feeding' one player in match play. We all have a role to play, and we all have responsibilities. If you're on the field, you are expected to perform — receive a pass, make a pass. We are going to make mistakes, but all-out effort will help us fix or cover up those mistakes." Those foundational pillars are put into practice daily on the field, where senior leadership helps keep the standard high. "Teamwork, effort and attitude show up in practice every day through things like our drills, where everyone holds each other accountable to give their max effort," said John Glenn senior defender Maddie Paisley. "Our practices are not always easy, so the encouragement from everybody is vital. Coach Wilkins has set the expectation of what our attitude should look like every day, and we are expected to try to make ourselves and our teammates better than the day before."
A balance of toughness and support While alumni often joke that Wilkins has "softened up" over two decades, current players see a coach who maintains intensity while empowering his athletes to meet those high benchmarks. "I'm not sure if it's true that he's actually softened up−practices are intense through my experience, and coach Wilkins expects full effort in everything we do," said John Glenn junior forward Kendall Snider. "Coach Wilkins is definitely a mix of both tough and supportive. He has high expectations for his players, but offers support and encouragement to help us meet those expectations." That approach creates a unique bond within the locker room that pushes players to elevate their game for the collective team. "The culture he creates on the team is one of a kind and makes us want to compete hard for each other," Snider added. "Coach Wilkins is definitely one of the best coaches I've had in any sport, and I'm sure many people would say that. He does push us hard, but the success the program has had under his leadership speaks for itself." Embracing the target & building the pipeline With six MVL league crowns and three OHSAA regional tournament runs under their belt, the Muskies no longer fight for recognition in the Eastern District — they carry the target on their back. Managing that shift from hunter to hunted is a responsibility Wilkins and his teams embrace every night they step onto the field. "We take a lot of pride in knowing that if team beats us, it makes their season," Wilkins said. "We have set a standard of how we want to perform on the field, and the upperclassmen take pride in continuing the tradition of living up to that standard. Sometimes we need reminded of what it takes. If we take a tough loss, we work to learn from it so that we can improve or even right the ship midstream." That relentless standard has consistently unlocked elite individual potential. Over the course of Wilkins' tenure, the Muskies have produced a steady pipeline of All-Ohio talent and collegiate standouts across multiple sports. The program's All-Ohio legacy features two-time honorees Emily Bates (2006, 2008/Oberlin College), Cassie Dubov (2010, 2011), Kerrie Dolick (2013, 2014), Harlie Gregory (2015, 2016, whose 47 single-season goals in 2016 rank among the highest totals in OHSAA history), Abby Wagner (2015/Muskingum University), Ashley Townsend (2017/Mount Vernon Nazarene, Indiana Wesleyan), Sarah Townsend (2017/Mount Vernon Nazarene), Cora Wilkins (2019/PennWest California), Angela Kumler (2021, 2022, Oberlin College for basketball), and Riley Zamensky (2023).
"When those players have earned All-Ohio honors or college interest, we will have additional conversations about taking the step to the next level," Wilkins said. "I try to point them in the direction of college ID camps, recruiting reel tips, and film study." Evolving with the times & year 24 outlook Navigating two decades of high school athletics requires a delicate balance between staying true to core values and adapting to changing player dynamics. While the technical X's and O's remain largely unchanged. Wilkins has intentionally modernized how he connects with new generations of student-athletes by adding group challenges, team lunches, and journaling to strengthen connection. Coming off a Division III regional final appearance, a young squad featuring 10 underclassmen on a 17-player roster is leaning on 12 returning letterwinners while working through early injury recoveries. More: A broken leg ended his junior season. But Trail QB Drew McGlumphy is back under center More: Daily Jeffersonian's 2026 high school football watchlist "Currently we are trying to get healthy," Wilkins said. "We have some key players that are missing due to injury or recovery from surgery. We have 12 girls returning with their varsity letter; however, of our 17 girls on the roster, 10 are underclassmen. We are a young team with real potential but will need some young players to step up and fill some big roles this season."
Beyond the Banners: Tough girls, do tough things Yet when Wilkins reflects on nearly a quarter century on the John Glenn sidelines, the real measure of success isn't found in the trophy case, the trophy count, or the 200-plus varsity wins. It's found in the life trajectory of the young women who graduate from the Muskies' program. "I will definitely remember a lot of great advice and how Coach Wilkins has guided so many athletes through life and on the field," Snider reflected. "The culture he creates on the team is one of a kind." For Wilkins, that life-long perspective remains the ultimate goal of his 24-year tenure in New Concord. "I want them to understand that they are capable of doing big things in their life," Wilkins said. "I want them to leave the program ready to lead and succeed. I want them to be confident in what they are able to do ... Tough girls, do tough things." KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: How Clay Wilkins' John Glenn girls soccer program still area power after 24 years