KINGSTON — Lisa Roberts is the definition of a local. Roberts, who has lived in Kingston her entire life, recently nabbed the vacant Kingston High School head volleyball coaching position.

The school board has yet to formally approve the hiring, but is expected to do so at an Aug. 23 meeting.

“I was born and raised in Kingston,” Roberts said. “I have been part of this community for a long time.”

She currently works as a substitute teacher in the North Kitsap School District.

KHS Athletic Coordinator Dan Novick is confident in Roberts’ drive to get the job done.

“Lisa has the ability to break down skills to athletes,” he said. “She has all of the necessary tools to succeed as a coach. She has fantastic enthusiasm and loves to work with kids.”

Roberts said she is anxious to hit the courts with the first Buccaneers volleyball team.

“I have been involved with sports my whole life and I love working with kids,” she said. “It’s something I have a passion for.”

Despite only having four years of coaching experience at Poulsbo Parks and Recreation, Roberts said she’s ready to embrace the challenge of being a first-year high school coach at a first-year school.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I am excited about coaching for the first time at the high school level,” she said. “The team is going to work hard, give it 100 percent and have fun doing it.”

Novick said he isn’t worried about Roberts’ lack of experience.

“She’s very mature and professional,” he said. “She understands how to design a practice from her coaching background in the past. Lisa is a coach who can help develop skills of players and motivate them to get better. We’re looking forward to having her here for the long term.”

Roberts said the most important aspect of a high school athletic program is building team camaraderie amongst the players.

“For us to be successful we have to work together as a team,” she said. “Our team has to communicate and get along. Some of the players have never played together before. It will be a lot of fun helping them grow as a team this season.”

Roberts said wins and losses aren’t as important as improvement throughout the season.

“We are not going to focus so much on wins and losses,” she said. “We’re going to focus on what we can do to get better every day.”