‘He was the epitome of sportsmanship.’ Apex High field renamed for late soccer coach
Apex High’s athletic field will be renamed in honor of the late Kevin Todd, who was a beloved teacher and soccer coach at the school for nearly 30 years.
The Wake County school board voted Tuesday to rename Apex High’s field as the Kevin E. Todd Field at Cougar Stadium.
School leaders and the Cougars Club, which is the athletics booster club, said Todd left a legacy that they want to be commemorated through the renaming of the field.
“Coach Todd always carried himself with the highest character, constant positivity, unparalleled humility, and a supportive, yet relentless drive to push those around him to be their best selves,” Elaine Hofmann, principal of Apex High, told the board. “On the field, he was the epitome of sportsmanship, beloved by his own team, opposing teams, and even the officials.”
Todd was the soccer coach at Apex High from 1991 to 2020. He was a two-time North Carolina Coach or the Year. He won 11 conference championships in men’s soccer and 15 conference championships in women’s soccer.
Todd won a state championship in men’s soccer in 2005 and in women’s soccer in 2007.
Todd died September 2020 in the hospital after a “medical event” earlier in the day at the school, The News & Observer previously reported.
Mentor and respected classroom teacher
In addition to his successful won-loss record, speakers on Tuesday said Todd also stood out for the positive relationships he fostered with his athletes and his students.
“He was a mentor, respected classroom teacher, and friend who always made you feel like it made his day to speak to you,” the last five Apex High principals wrote in a letter supporting the renaming request. “Coach Todd established the winning traditions of CAT soccer while being relentlessly positive and uplifting.
“As Coach Todd would often say, ‘Let’s make it a great day!’”
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 12:32 PM.
