LIBERTY RANCH A.D. WILLIAMS RETIRING
GALT — Janice Williams’ voice climbs another pitch when it comes to talking about the success of Liberty Ranch High athletics this school year.
Liberty Ranch captured six Sierra Valley Conference varsity titles in football, boys basketball, girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys track and field. The Hawks’ volleyball, girls golf, wrestling, coed tennis and boys and girls swimming have finished in the top three of the conference this season. In recent years, Galt’s second high school has become a force in the conference.
Williams will continue to watch upcoming Liberty Ranch athletic teams. But now as a fan.
Being the Liberty Ranch athletic director for the last six years, and a prior stint in the same spot at Galt High in the mid-2000s, Williams, a physical education teacher at Liberty Ranch, is retiring from the Galt Joint Union High School District after 38 years on Friday. She also taught and coached at Galt High.
Anthony Linebaugh, Liberty Ranch’s football coach who is also a teacher at the campus, officially takes over for Williams starting next Monday.
Williams felt at the time she became the Hawks’ AD, that the athletic program would grow over the course of time.
“We’ve always had a pretty good athletic program,” Williams said. “This year was probably the most outstanding year. I was on the coaches ‘this is my last year, come on, let’s do the best we’ve ever been.’ We ended up with six varsity championships. We did really well. A lot of firsts at Liberty. It was just a great year for me to retire.”
The Hawks’ successful run will end toward the end of this week. Junior Collin Ullrich, who took third place in the 3200 meter race at the section’s Masters’ finals at Elk Grove High last Friday, becomes the first Hawk to compete at the CIF State Track and Field Championships. The trials and finals of the state meet will be held at Veterans Stadium at Buchanan High of Clovis on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Earlier this decade, Williams earned the SacJoaquin Section’s Model Coach Award for the coaching success she accomplished at Galt High.
One of Williams’ priorities during the last six years as Liberty Ranch’s athletic director was making sure her coaches on all levels worry about one thing — coaching their student-athletes.
“Every meeting that I’ve had with my coaches,” explained Williams. “I’m here to make your job a lot easier. I know what it takes to coach, the paper work that has to be done.”
Liberty Ranch Principal Joe Saramago, who started his teaching and coaching career at Galt High in the mid1990s and was the athletic director for the first half of the 2000s, spoke highly of Williams.
“Janice has been great to work with,” Saramago said. “She cares a great deal about the kids and always has their best interests at heart. She is detail oriented, and I think that shows in the quality of our athletic programs.”
One of the strong points to the Hawks’ athletic program, Williams notes, is retaining varsity coaches. An example she gave was Wade Isbell, who is the Liberty Ranch baseball coach, completing his third season at the helm. Prior, the Hawks went through three coaches in five seasons.
“To have a great sports program, you cannot keep having turnovers in coaches,” Williams said. “The kids just don’t have a chance to buy in ... the discipline, what’s expected. I think that is the key to any high school program. If you can keep your coaches consistent, your programs are going to build.”
El Dorado High Athletic Director Joe Volek, who was the school’s football coach for the last five seasons in which the Cougars won two SVC titles in the last three seasons, feels the entire conference will miss Williams at their monthly meetings the next school year.
“Janice is one of the most real people left in the business,” Volek said. “She is honest, kind and cares about the student-athlete. I have really enjoyed working with her for the past 10-plus years. She will be missed as AD.”
A new adventure awaits for Liberty Ranch and the SVC in 14 months. The conference drops from Division IV to D-V, and says good-bye to current member Cordova, which remains in D-IV with a new league. The rest of the league consists of Liberty Ranch, Galt, Rosemont, El Dorado and Union Mine. Taking Cordova’s place is Bradshaw Christian of Elk Grove, which is currently in the Sierra Delta League that is D-VI.
“It is a great league,” said Williams of the SVC, which Liberty Ranch has been a member since the school opened its doors at the start of the 2009-10 school year. “All of the athletic directors get along. We communicate with each other, whether it would be texts or e-mails. I think all of the programs are getting stronger.”
During her time at Galt High, Williams taught physical education. She also coached the Warriors’ volleyball team for 16 years, and the school’s girls and boys golf, girls basketball and softball teams.
Williams was Galt High’s athletic director at the start of the 2004-05 school year, taking over for Saramago who was promoted to assistant principal at the campus. But a disagreement between Williams and Tom Gemma, then the Galt Joint Union High School District superintendent, on coaching girls golf and being the athletic director led her to resign after one year.
“Gemma told me I had to make a decision,” recalled Williams. “I contemplated and said, ‘you know what? I’ll just go back to coaching.’
Over the years at Galt High, Williams coached the girls’ and boys’ golf teams until she transferred to teach at Liberty Ranch earlier this decade.
Now stepping into retirement, one of her Williams’ family plans this summer is going to Canada. Along with attending some rodeos, Williams plans to do some fishing.
“I love to fish,” Williams said. “Trips here and there. We could end up at Mount Rushmore.”
Williams will be busy with family as well. She has two grandchildren to whom she plans to give plenty of attention.
“Janice will be missed,” Saramago said. “She has left the athletic program in a great place. I am confident Anthony will continue to lead us down the right path.”
Williams added, “I think I’ll be staying busy. No matter what we do in life, we’re always busy. I’ll stay occupied.”
Time aside to enjoy life, Williams is just a phone call and an e-mail away for Saramago and Linebaugh. She plans to continue attending Hawks’ games as well.
“I’m not just going to walk away and retire,” Williams said. “I’m still going to be involved. I can still volunteer. I’ll be at football games, basketball games, soccer. I love sports. I love the school. I love the kids.”