Plyler, Poss picked to lead Russellville soccer programs

Two new head coaches were named to lead the Russellville High School varsity soccer programs on Thursday afternoon.

Larsen Plyler, a history teacher at Russellville High School who coached cross country and the girls’ soccer team at RHS during the 2021-22 seasons before taking a break due to health reasons, was named the head coach of the varsity boys’ soccer team.

Plyler takes over after former head coach Trey Stanford, who led the RHS boys’ soccer program from its inception before the 2017 season until his resignation in mid-August of this year.

“We’re proud to have Coach Larsen Plyler leading our boys’ soccer program,” Russellville High School Athletic Director Dustin Goodwin said. “He’s the right person to continue building a culture of hard work, discipline, and pride in our boys’ soccer program.”

The new head coach Plyler is set to lead a program that has seen much success over the last nine years, winning seven section championships and making two state championship appearances. 

Plyler said his goal is to build on that success while positively influencing the lives of his players.

“I want to take this opportunity to help train young men. I love soccer, but more importantly than that, at this age it’s important to develop discipline and responsibility, respect and grit—and we want to do that,” Plyler said. “I’m going to depend on the assistant coaches who are staying, Gaby Ramirez and Fred Ambrosio—two great men who are going to help me on the field and off and help me be a positive influence for these young men and prepare them for what’s next.”

The new head coach of the RHS girls’ soccer team is Jayna Poss.

Poss is a 2022 Russellville High School graduate enrolled at Athens State and is currently working at West Elementary. During her time as a student-athlete at RHS she played basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

“As a former Golden Tiger, Coach Jayna Poss knows what it means to represent Russellville. We’re proud to have her leading our girls’ soccer program and continuing the tradition of excellence,” Goodwin said.

Poss replaces Casey Guynn, who led the Lady Golden Tigers to the playoffs in her one season in charge.

Poss said she is hoping to bring togetherness and ingrain skills in her players that can be used on and off the pitch.

“I want to bring positivity and a feeling of being one as a family to the team,” Poss said. “We want to learn the personal skills and the life skills and responsibility that can be used after soccer.”