For the past few years, long-time Woodrow Wilson tennis coach Gayla Collinsworth has spent most of her summers trying to master the art of hitting a little white ball with a long stick. Based on an 83 she shot recently at Dallas Athletic Club, her leisure time has been well spent.
But this month, Collinsworth will tackle a new challenge, that of becoming the first woman football coach in the long history of the school.
Under UIL rules, girls are eligible to play varsity football for the first time in 1993. In spring practice, student Jamie Beach tried out as a kicker, and the seed was planted by head football coach and athletic director Bruce Land.
“When Jamie showed interest in playing football for us, I mentioned the possibility to coach Collinsworth about getting involved,” Land says.
“She seems very excited about the opportunity to learn, and everyone, including the coaches and players, is reacting very positively to the idea. Gayla has always been totally committed to our athletic programs here at Woodrow.”
Collinsworth, a Dallas native, went to J.L. Long Middle School and graduated from Woodrow in 1962. She played whatever sport was in season growing up, but specialized in tennis.
After graduating from East Texas State in 1967 and teaching elementary school for a few years, she took a position at Long, where she began her coaching career. In 1977, she moved next door to Woodrow, where she has been ever since.
The Wildcats have enjoyed much success on the tennis courts during the Collinsworth era, consistently competing for the district title.
Collinsworth mentions the success of Laura Hageman, who went to the state tournament four straight years in the mid-1980s and earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Kansas.
For as long as she can remember, though, Collinsworth has been a die-hard football fan. Some of her earliest memories include listening to Doak Walker broadcast SMU football games on the radio and, of course, she is a big Cowboys fan. But did she ever dream about coaching football herself?
“Not really,” Collinsworth says. “But I enjoy new challenges, or maybe I’m just a little crazy. With team tennis starting in the fall, I’ll be doing a lot of juggling, but it will all work out I’m sure.
“My goal in my first year will be to learn as much as possible about the game. The coaching staff has been more than willing to answer my questions. I expect to work primarily in scouting, learn more about receiving and kicking, be a gopher of sorts, and help keep more specific statistics for the team.”
So after Collinsworth plays in a few more summer golf tournaments, she’ll turn her attention to a vast, new direction – the Woodrow Wilson practice field for the steamy pre-season workouts.
And based on her past success, it won’t be long before she makes her mark.
“It’ll be a little different,” she says, “but it’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
