The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

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  • Tarboro Vikings soccer coach Leshaun Jenkins was selected to coach the East-West All-Star game in 2013 in Greensboro. FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER

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August 3, 2012

Jenkins receives another honor

Selected to coach East-West All-Star game in 2013

Sports Correspondent Van Holland

TARBORO — When it comes to accomplishments and achievements, Tarboro Vikings soccer coach Leshaun Jenkins doesn't like to acknowledge the fact he is being awarded for his performances as a coach, because that is his job.

With what Jenkins has done on the soccer field for the Vikings program over the past 11 years has gained him a lot of honors, such as five time Eastern Plains Conference Coach of the Year and Regional Coach of the Year.

Now Jenkins has been named the 2013 East West All-Star soccer coach for the East team.

"It means a lot to me to be selected to coach the All-Star game," Jenkins said. "Personally this is probably the highlight of my career so far. Personally it is the best moment and has confirmed what I have believed about my abilities and my program."

With the honor, Jenkins also gets to carry a player from his team to participate in the All-Star game.

Jenkins has put together an impressive career as the Vikings head coach with a 165-55-15 record. He has won a conference championship every year since he has been coaching at Tarboro except for 2002 and 2004 and has carried his team to the Elite 8 of the NCHSAA state 2-A playoffs.

Jenkins has the type of coaching nature that most coaches have. He has a refuse to lose nature, but his is a little different then others.

"I refuse to let myself be out worked by other coaches," Jenkins said. " I refuse to allow other coaches to have more knowledge of the game than me. The thought of another team out working my players or another coach out coaching me, motivates me and makes me work even harder."

Most coaches look for that one special year of their career to be their glory season, but Jenkins likes to make every year his glory season. He is the type of coach who does not like to lose. When his team does lose he will look in the mirror at himself before he looks at his players.

"If we don't win a conference championship or conference tournament I feel like I have failed as a coach, because I feel like each year, every kid on my team should have a right to call themselves a champion in some aspect," Jenkins said. "I feel like if I put everything into the season we shouldn't come up short. That's just how I feel, because I don't like losing."

Jenkins is not only a coach to his players, he is also a mentor. He doesn't assume that his players are being taught everything they need to be taught at home, so if a player needs to come to him about any type of personal issue Jenkins is always there for his players weather it be former or current.

Jenkins believes that every player he coaches has crossed his path for some special reason and he feels that it is his job to teach every player about all parts of life and help them become good young men.

"I love my players and I always will," Jenkins said. "I want to make sure that I am developing my players into the best young men they can become."

He is a very big believer in the Lord and puts his faith into the Lord's hands for guidance when he is on the field coaching.

"You can't do anything great unless you are led by the lord in my opinion," he said. "You have to have faith in what you are doing."

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