PARKERSBURG – These are the best of times for Eric McCoy.

The Wheeling native has realized a professional dream. Moreover, he is scheduled to be a father for the first time in the coming months.

McCoy, 30, was recently named head girls’ soccer coach at Parkersburg High. He has served as the Big Reds’ boys’ soccer assistant for the past six seasons.

“I have been looking forward to being a head soccer coach ever since I began playing the game. When last year’s girls’ coach moved away, I thought this was a great opportunity,” McCoy said. “It makes me proud to take over this program. The girls were state runners-up last year.

“I love being an assistant with the boys. It was an exceptional program,” he added. “I learned a lot with the boys and I hope to bring that to the girls program. I see it as a win-win.”

McCoy brings an impressive resume to his new challenge.

The 2004 John Marshall graduate was a four-year soccer performer for the Monarchs, playing in the OVAC All-Star game as a senior.

He took his skills to Ohio Valley University, playing all four years. While student teaching at OVU, he also served as the school’s women’s soccer assistant, proving the springboard to become an assistant at Parkersburg High. He earned his degree in science education and teaches eighth grade at Hamilton Junior High, a feeder school for the Big Reds.

McCoy harbors high hopes for the upcoming season. But he also realizes the WVSSAC-imposed constraints that hinder team advancement in the summer.

“We will be a young team. We graduated 10-11 seniors and four are playing in college. But we have some solid seniors returning and our goalie was all-state as a freshman,” McCoy said. “We are looking to have somewhere between 30-35 girls out this season. “Our expectations are high. You cannot accomplish much without high goals, but I realize we are young and there will be a building process.

“What makes it tough is we are limited to a three-week window to conduct practices. We started last week. But that three-week period is for all sports, so that makes it tough for multi-sport athletes. I believe it should be for just the fall sports,” he added. “We cannot do anything other than conditioning in July. Official practice starts Aug. 1 and classes resume Aug. 11. Our first game is Aug. 17 at Morgantown. So we will basically have a little more than a week for two-a-day practices.”

He and his wife, Lauren, are expecting their first child at Thanksgiving. They have been married for six years. She is also a teacher.

McCoy also coaches eighth grade girls’ basketball at Hamilton Junior High. That position will serve him well in helping channel players into his high school program.

McCoy’s parents still reside in Wheeling. They will have an opportunity to see their son’s coaching abilities up close as Parkersburg plays Wheeling Park at Wheeling Island Stadium on Sept. 17.

BUBBA’S BITS

SOMETIMES IT is good to be wrong. Such was the case when I picked Golden State to win Game Seven in the NBA Finals. What a way to end a 52-year title drought for Cleveland. LeBron James did serve notice that he is still the game’s best player.

A 16-YEAR project has come to fruition in New Philadelphia. Tuscarawas Catholic High officials launched an effort in 2000 to install lighting at Art Teynor Field. The work is now complete and the Saints will play Saturday night home games this fall.

FORMER STEUBENVILLE High quarterbacking great Zach Collaros has inked a two-year contract extension with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the the Canadian Football League. He suffered a torn ACL last September. At the time of his injury, Collaros was leading the CFL in passing yards (3,376) and touchdown passes (25).