Two Bay Rivers District field hockey programs will operate under the leadership of new, but somewhat familiar faces this fall.
Christine Watts, a 2009 graduate and former field hockey standout at Jamestown High – known then at Christine Johnson – has taken over the Eagles program.
Across town, Jazmin Argarin, a former Grafton High and Walsingham Academy standout, has been selected as the new coach at Lafayette.
Both are already familiar with the Bay Rivers District from their high school playing days and are excited to return to their former stomping grounds as first-year head coaches following successful Division I playing careers.
Their playing backgrounds and longtime aspirations of coaching the sport they love are similar, but their paths to landing their first head-coaching jobs differ slightly.
Watts, who played four years at the College of William and Mary, where she was an all-Colonial Athletic Conference selection at center-defender before graduating this past spring, wasted little time jumping into the coaching mix.
Being hired at her high school alma mater capped off an “amazing” summer for Watts that included graduating with an accounting degree in June before marrying her boyfriend of four years and a Lafayette graduate, Steven Watts, two months later.
“I knew when I was playing that I wanted to coach eventually, but I didn’t think it would happen right away,” Watts said. “Originally, I was going to see if Jamestown needed an assistant, but I was more than happy to take over [as head coach]. … I feel very lucky. I loved my time [at Jamestown] and am looking forward to hopefully giving these girls the same positive experience I had.”
Argarin, who played her freshman year as a recruited walk-on at Longwood University before graduating in 2010 with a degree in biology, spent last year as a varsity assistant at Warhill High under head coach Kristen Castano.
Argarin said she contemplated going after head coaching positions in recent years prior to accepting the Lafayette job in July, but instead chose to wait.
“I’ve wanted to be a head coach since I was in middle school,” said Argarin, who played middle and high school field hockey at Grafton before playing her senior year at Walsingham where she garnered all-Tidewater Conference honors. “I’ve coached rec leagues and camps with [William and Mary assistant] Tess Ellis for years, and I considered pursuing a few [head coaching] positions previously, but I wanted more experience. This time is just felt right.”
Both Argarin and Watts admitted that, merely a few weeks into their respective jobs, they’re still working on developing a coaching philosophy. The current goal is simply instilling faith in their teammates.
“This is new for all of us,” Watts said referring to herself and the players.
Both also agreed that being from the area and having played and excelled — Watts was a first team all-state selection her senior year while Argarin helped the Clippers win a state title in 2002 — in the Bay Rivers District has put many of their nerves at ease.
“There’s somewhat of a comfort level coaching in the area that I know best,” Argarin said. “I’ve seen the district grow and change over the years, and that gives me sort of a drive to push the girls and have a successful season.”
