School has tipped off, and so have Lincoln sports. Walk past the gym and you’ll catch the action: volleyball nets set up, music blasting from the dance team and basketball hoops out with clean nets and a few new faces leading the way. 

Three programs are starting fresh with new head coaches. Boys basketball coach Kalin Walling, volleyball coach Charlie Rosa and dance coach Tegan Thomas are ready to call Lincoln home.

Volleyball opened with a clean sweep of 3-0 over North Salem and Lake Oswego under Coach Rosa. 

Rosa grew up in Puerto Rico before moving to Oregon, where he attended South Eugene High School and became a member of the school’s Track and Field Hall of Fame. 

“I went into the military right after high school, came home and then went to [California State University, San Bernardino] and transitioned into volleyball after that,” said Rosa. 

Having coached volleyball for 26 years after previously coaching track, Rosa is bringing experience and a winning attitude into the program. 

“I had the opportunity to coach for Rick Lorenz, who was one of top coaches at Central Catholic, and since then it’s just been uphill,” said Rosa. “I’ve coached all-Americans, college athletes and pro athletes.”

Rosa says being a good player starts off the court. 

“[We have to make] sure we are good people before we are good players. If we do that, then everything else falls in place, and we play good volleyball from there,” said Rosa. “Just the little things like cleaning up after yourself, the thank yous, the welcomes and we just show what we can do on the court.”

Another new addition to the Lincoln community is alumnus Kalin Walling. Walling is taking over the boys’ basketball team, which only lost two seniors last season. 

“I’ve coached for 15 years in Oregon, California, and spent a season coaching in Seattle,” said Walling. “I’ve enjoyed being a part of the industry, and going between trainer and coach has given me lots of opportunities.”

Growing up, Kalling always had a basketball in hand, searching for pickup games whenever he could. Now, returning to Lincoln feels like a true homecoming.

“It feels good to go back to a place with familiar connections and with this being my first time running a program, it’s nice to be back in the [Pacific Northwest],” said Kalling. 

Kalling brings the value of selflessness to the team. He’s excited to see the gym packed with students and the band performing at home games. 

“I am always looking to help people and figure them out. With that, I want this game to be fun while still being competitive,” said Kalling. “This season is not a rebuild but a revamp.” 

Another new coach at Lincoln is new dance coach, Tegan Thomas, a former high school dancer in Mehama, Oregon, a small town thirty minutes from Salem. She is currently studying physics at Portland State. 

Thomas has worked at multiple other schools and even owned a studio in Salem before moving to Portland, but it all started as a part-time job.

“After I had my oldest daughter, I needed something that I could do part-time while I was home with her during the day,” said Thomas. “I kind of just fell into coaching that way.”

Along with years of experience with dance, Coach Thomas hopes to bring some of her traditions to Lincoln’s dance team.

“We would always sit in a circle and turn all the lights off in the room that we get ready in and play the song and close your eyes and picture a perfect performance before you go out,” said Thomas.

Clear your calendars for 6 p.m. this season and come watch the girls’ volleyball in the gym under new coach Charlie Rosa, and don’t forget winter sports are just around the corner.