In her 21st season as the head coach at Derby coach Christy Weve looks to make it back to the state tournament. The team went in as the one seed last year, but lost in the first round. 

Since Weve took on the head coaching job in Derby the girls have won 15 regional titles. 

Weve’s success didn’t start in Derby though, she coached at Bishop Carroll from 1996-2003, where she won two class 5A state titles. 

“Bishop Carroll gave me my start in high school coaching,” Weve said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to begin my high school coaching career there.”

She didn’t just coach softball at Carroll, she also coached basketball and tennis. 

But through her time at Carroll the most memorable part wasn’t coaching all three sports nor was it winning either state championship.

It was getting coached. 

“I was able to work with one of the best coaches around, Don Racine,” Weve said. “He was a great mentor not only with coaching but teaching.” 

Weve’s unique playstyle forces her players to work hard at practice, so they are ready to play fast during games. 

“We play at a pretty quick pace, and we do a really good job at it.” junior Charlie Ayalla said. “We communicate well with each other which makes playing easier.”

Whether her teams win or lose, Weve wants the girls to learn valuable lessons on and off the field. 

Oftentimes she is successful with both.

“Weve has affected my life in so many ways on and off the field,” senior Loren Sweat said. “She has always pushed  me to be my best and helped me reach my potential.” 

Being a coach means you have to give up time with family, which for many can be their breaking point. For Weve her family is right alongside her. 

“Balancing family with coaching responsibilities has definitely been one of the most challenging things,” Weve said. “I am blessed to have a supportive family. My husband, Jeff, my boys and my parents have made many sacrifices so I can coach.” 

Weve instills her love for the game into her players. 

Austen Hilt was a player for Weve at Derby and now coaches alongside her. 

“It’s been really special for me to come full circle and now coach alongside someone who had such a big impact on me,” Hilt said. “I think we balance each other really well and have the same goals for our players and the program.”

Oftentimes players wonder why a coach does something a certain way, but Hilt understood Weve well.

“Honestly, even when I played for Coach Weve, I had a lot of respect for her and trusted her process,” Hilt said. “Now that I’m coaching with her, I have an even better understanding of her thought process, the way she strategizes, and pushes players as well as supports them on and off the field.”

Not many coaches stay in the same town long enough to coach with a former player,  but for Weve her love for coaching and her love for Derby is very apparent. 

“Why am I still coaching? Simple,” Weve said. “I love the game.”