After a 20 year coaching career, D’Iberville Girls Soccer Coach Paul Langham announces his retirement

After 20 years of coaching and spending time molding young adults, D’Iberville girls head soccer coach Paul Langham has announced his retirement.

Paul Langham has been a talented coach on the Mississippi gulf coast for 10 years now, first serving at Our Lady Academy, and then moving to the pitch in D’Iberville five years later. Coach Langham has poured out his heart and soul to his athletes and community, and not even a stage four cancer diagnosis four and half years ago kept him away from wanting to make a difference. 

Unfortunately, Coach Langham says it is time to retire because his health is getting worse and it’s hard to keep up. Although he may feel as though he is letting his team and girls down, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“In the beginning of my 9th grade year I didn’t try out for summer but I did try out the first day of school and he welcomed me onto the team and made me one them and it just made me feel really good about it because I was really scared, but Coach Langham brought me into soccer and I love it. I don’t know what I’d do without soccer or Coach Langham,” said rising Junior soccer player, Nyla Breeland.

“Honestly it’s amazing,” said the rising Senior soccer player, Sanai Barnes. “Sometimes I’m still in disbelief how he shows up for us. He still shows up, he still plans our games, us and he’s already made our whole schedule for next season. He’s trying to help us be the best that we can be. Even if he’s not here, he’s preparing for our future and it’s really nice to see because I’ve known him for so long. It’s really touching, and also really bitter sweet.”

“You get used to people and you get attached to them, and they become a part of your family,” said Coach Paul Langham. “I don’t have a biological daughter, but I feel like when I coach, I have 25 or 30 that I try to feed into their lives and help them not only on the field but off the field as well. I’ll miss it, I’ll miss the time. I’ll miss it.”

Coach Langham went on to say that he always strives his best to help every student athlete in hopes of making their lives just a little bit better. It’s safe to say that he has accomplished that goal time and time again. From all of your athletes, past and present, and even your past students like our very own Ansley Brent, happy retirement Coach Langham! Job well done, and keep on fighting!