Good luck entering your second year as the soccer team's head coach. What were the lessons you learned from last year that will help you this year?

One can measure success by wins and losses, but something the content of each game or each season there is something to build on, regardless of a win or a loss.

Some significant lessons learned from last year were fitness readiness, culture, roster depth, and player versatility. We got off to a rough start at 0 - 5, but then we kicked it in and won or tied 5 out of our last 10 games. This was due in part to increased fitness levels and turning a culture around to a more positive outlook. Losing key players to injuries also played a role as we moved through the season, and players stepped it up and were able to cover for some others who were limited in playing time because of injury. Part of that movement included players learning to play new positions. This ultimately paid off, as we have more versatile players who gained a lot of valuable minutes. Soccer is now a stable sport in America. We have leagues, clubs, and so many options to play or watch soccer.

Last year, you experienced coaching in the ISCC conference for the first time. What were the takeaways you learned to help this year's team be more successful?

The Skyway conference certainly provides a high level of competition. The fast pace of play and physicality are two attributes that we all learned together last year. That will help dictate some of the strategies this year. One key takeaway from last year was that we had to learn we could compete in our conference, and we did just that with a tremendous comeback tie with Oakton and a win vs CLC.

Every coach has goals; can you help outline some goals you have for this year, compared to, say, last year?

Some of the goals are similar to those from last year. We look to increase the number of wins and decrease losses. We did that last year and look to continue that upward trajectory. Increasing our team GPA was also a goal reached, and we look to increase that even more this year. Moving up within the conference standings is also a goal which I believe we can do. Scoring more goals is perhaps our biggest target this year. Increased offensive success will lead to decreasing the load of the defense and generate a continually level of confidence within the team. We had 10 different players score last year. That shows great balance and versatility. We look to have that same level of versatility and have these players increase their individual outputs.

Is there a player or players you would like to highlight in this interview, a newcomer or existing player?

It's always difficult to single out players, as we have many players worth mentioning. Frankly, our whole team would have to listed to be fair. I will say that all our returners will play a key role in showing our first-year players the expectations and commitment I have for all players. They all gained extensive experience last year. We have a very strong group of incoming players who have had very successful high school and club careers. We have nine players coming in who played in the inaugural High School Senior All-Star game with the Fox Valley and Kishwaukee River Conferences this spring. It was exciting to scout the game and know we have many of those players coming to MCC.

When the soccer schedule came out, did you see a match that you circled on the calendar?

I circled the first game vs UW at Rock County. It will help dictate our expected higher level of play right away and build off for the next game. Then I'll circle the next game, then the next.

Coaching is a very personal thing. You have your style, and now I believe a team built around that style. What are some of the ways you would describe the style of play you want your players to possess: relentless, fast, quick decision makers?
Coaching is a very personal thing. I try to be a coach who instills confidence in players and still holds them accountable. Preparation in training for game readiness, and everyone knowing their roles, is also important to me. Nevertheless, as all coaches should, I continually learn. Education and sometimes just going to observe other teams training helps that learning process. Possession is a key part of our game. What we may lack in overall size can be equalized by fitness and speed. Players having the confidence to shoot more rather than pass is also something we are developing to help increase our chances of scoring. Making sure players are disciplined in their positional play is a key part of our system as well.