Tony Degelia — Golf

Eagle’s Eye: What are your goals for your team this season?

Tony Degelia: To build a program, years past the program’s only had maybe 10 kids at the most ever and right now we’re up to over 20 kids, so we can build and have a big long picture and develop kids and try to hopefully create some love for the sport.

EE: What brought you to Akins?

TD: I had an opportunity, I had a couple of job offers. I used to work in Round Rock, I’ve lived in South Austin my whole life, so was trying to get back home. I still lived here but worked in Round Rock. I had a daughter who played softball and a job opening came up for baseball and softball, I applied for that about seven years ago and was given both jobs and I chose softball so I could coach my daughter.

EE: How long have you been coaching at Akins?

TD: This is my seventh year.

EE: What is your coaching philosophy?

TD: I’m a kind of a balance between nurturing and also tough love. So I believe that students need to learn self-discipline, but also need a pat on the back every once and a while to kind of create self-belief.