Ponca City Public Schools hire four new head coaches

Lewis “Bubba” Smethers has been named Head Girls Soccer Coach for Ponca City Schools.

“I am really excited to be working with Ponca City Schools,” Smethers said. “I see a great future ahead.”

“Coach Smethers brings a tremendous amount of experience and passion to our girls Soccer program,” Ponca City Schools Athletic Director Jason Leavitt said.

Smethers is a graduate of Ponca City High School. He led the Newkirk soccer program for the past six seasons. In addition to Newkirk, Coach Smethers has been deeply rooted in the local Ponca City Soccer Club for the past 30 years.

The newly named Head Baseball Coach for Ponca City Schools is Casey Love.

“I am looking forward to working with the young men in Ponca City,” Love said. “We are going to work hard and continue to improve each year.”

Leavitt said, “Coach Love is a proven leader and values the positive relationships that it takes to get the most out of student athletes.”

Love is a graduate of Cushing High School. After high school, he played baseball at Conners State, American River (CA) and ended at Oklahoma State playing under legendary Coach Gary Ward. Love has 15 years of head coaching experience with stops at Bethel, Hominy and Pawnee. Love is also an assistant football coach.

Ivan McFarlin has been named the new Head Basketball Coach.

“I am honored and blessed to be the new Ponca City Head Coach, and I look forward to the continued development of our basketball program,” McFarlin said.

Leavitt said, “Coach McFarlin is very knowledgeable of the game and has already built positive relationships with our student athletes.”

Coach McFarlin is a graduate of Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas. After high school, McFarlin became an Oklahoma State graduate where he played all four years under legendary Coach Eddie Sutton. McFarlin’s coaching experience includes one year as an assistant for Stillwater Schools and one year as assistant for Ponca City.  McFarlin has also been involved with various local and state basketball organizations. McFarlin and his wife  Angela have three children.

Wendy Landes is the new Ponca City Schools Head Cross Country and Head Girls Golf Coach.

“I am extremely honored to be named Head Cross Country and Girls Golf Coach. I look forward to growing both programs and working alongside great coaches and student-athletes,” Landes said.

Leavitt said, “Coach Landes has been with our district for the last seven years and proved that she is the right person to lead both Cross Country and Girls Golf.”

Landes is a graduate of Jay High School. While at Jay, she ran Cross Country and competed in several marathons before injuries caught up with her. Her experience in golf started while playing with family and friends. While attending Oklahoma University, Landes worked with both men’s and women’s golf teams as an intern for the athletic department. Landes teaches physical education at Trout Elementary.