D-B Alum LaGuardia Coming Home to Coach Tribe Boys’ Soccer
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
January 14, 2019
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Dobyns-Bennett has named one of its own to run the Tribe boys’ soccer program.
Through a release on Monday, the school named Tom LaGuardia as its new boys’ head coach.
"We are excited to welcome Coach LaGuardia back to Dobyns-Bennett,” said Dobyns-Bennett Athletic Director Larry Shively in the release. “I know that he his very passionate about D-B Soccer and we look forward to him serving our student athletes."
LaGuardia takes over for Blake Rutherford, who announced his resignation late last year.
Rutherford coached the Indians to an 84-18-6 record in five seasons including last year’s 19-1-2 mark that included Big 7 Conference, District 1-AAA and Region 1-AAA championships as well as a berth in the TSSAA Class AAA State Tournament.
"I am humbled to be asked to lead the Dobyns-Bennett Men's Soccer Program,” said LaGuardia. “As a former Indian and Kingsport native, I am truly honored to have the opportunity to return to my roots and guide the wonderful tradition that is D-B Soccer.”
The 1992 D-B grad was a defender on the 1991 Indian team that lost 2-1 in the state championship to Christian Brothers. LaGuardia played goalkeeper as a senior the next season.
LaGuardia spent one season at Clemson before transferring to St. John’s in New York City, where many of his relatives have resided. He helped the Red Storm to the 1993 Big East title.
Dobyns-Bennett is the third high school stop for LaGuardia who previously coached at Sullivan South. He directed the Rebels to their first-ever Region 1 title in 2005. South defeated Science Hill and Tennessee that year and earned a draw against the Indians.
“Coach Laguardia has a track record of developing and sustaining a successful soccer program at two different high schools,” continued Shively. “His attention to culture, detail, and a complete vision of soccer in Kingsport were apparent in the interview process.”
LaGuardia also coached three years at North Buncombe High School in Weaverville, North Carolina. He also spent four years in South Carolina with the Clemson Soccer Academy and most recently, served as goalkeeper coach for the Tri-Cities Otters.
He’s anxious to get started with the start of the 2019 season looming in just nine weeks.
“My focus will be to provide our student-athletes with the tools to succeed both in the classroom and on the pitch in the short term, and to provide them with a foundation through soccer that will shape their futures in a positive fashion,” noted LaGuardia.
The Lady Indian soccer job remains open by design according to Shively.
“We will be making a separate hire for the girls,” said Shively. “We will start that process sometime in May.”