Coach Owens will be leaving the Willard School District after 14 years and has accepted the position of assistant principal at Bolivar High School. With his departure, Willard High School Activities Director Jeff Staley has announced that the new coaching staff for Willard High School will be Tim Magee and Geoff Meiss. Coach Magee will be the head boy’s coach and Coach Meiss will be the head girl’s coach - each will assist the other.

Editor’s Note - Tim’s been with the team as long as I’ve been covering them and I believe may be a former Tiger himself. He is on the far left of the photo, wearing the white tshirt. Geoff spent at least one season working for Lindsay Paulsell at Marshfield in 2005. If memory serves, he moved to this area from a larger metropolitan area with soccer playing and coaching experience. Congrats to the Tigers!

Pritchard notches hat trick, Gold team gets tie by Logan Hoffman of the News-Leader (and Drury Panthers goal keeper)

Photo Gallery by Mark Schiefelbein for the News-Leader

Q&A: Tyler McElroy, Glendale Soccer by Michael Stacy, post-game.

Tying Times by Jeff Kessinger at the Christian County Headliner offers feedback and interviews with Ozark Tiger players Robbie Curtis and Jake Lumby. His co-worker Kyle Wilson covers the Girls game with Tying Times, while chatting with Erica Hogan from Ozark and Stephanie Allen from Nixa.

Bad weather good for Allen is TJ Brice’s contribution to the News-Leader coverage that evening, chatting with Stephanie Allen, Jacklyn Finley and Coach Evan Palmer from the Nixa Eagles. He covers the Boy’s game with Ozark duo plays last game together and his conversations with Ozark’s Robbie Curtis and Jake Lumby.

Pritchard tallies all 3 goals in All-Star tie by Dave Roberts at the Waynesville Daily Guide offers a game update

I’ll add more as I find them.

Also some articles leading up to the game:

On The Move Again by Kyle Wilson of the Christian County Headliner and Finley ready to take game to next level by Logan Hoffman of the News-Leader with stories about Jacklyn Finley of the Nixa Eagles

Hogan excited for final high school soccer game about Erica Hogan, Ozark Tigers, also by Logan Hoffman

Soccer All-Stars to compete in Springfield from the Cassville Democrat regarding goalie Anthony Larson and forward Ryan Schlichtman of the Cassville Wildcats

Area soccer standouts set to compete in Southwest Missouri All-Star Games about the Waynesville Tigers and Crocker Lions representing last night - Michael Davis from Waynesville and Nathan Rigsby from Crocker on the boys side, along with Katie Pritchard, Sade’ Boswell, Lauren Kelly, Tash Lord and Shanna Neeley from the Girls team at Waynesville.

Camdenton soccer all-stars take to the field Thursday from the Lake Sun Leader regarding Josh Baldwin and Nate Lipps as well as Blair Baker, Megan Manzer and Alisha “Girdy” Morice from the Girls team.

Falcon seniors dominate field in all-star soccer offers conversations with Lou Opfer and Justin Rogers of the Glendale Falcons in advance of the game.
Q&A: Patrick McCarthy, Glendale soccer prior to the game.

Chiefs to dominate all-stars offers interviews with Heath Melugin, Zack Hay and Jessica McCutcheon prior to the game.

I was asked by a reporter from the News-Leader about what the All-Star game represents for me. After spending a couple of hours digging through hundreds of photos, and posting 98 of them to my Flickr and SmugMug sites, I think I can distill it.

The players always exceed my expectations.

The All-Stars have led their teams. They’ve excelled on the larger stage as well, and when you bring them together their pride and their competitive spirit ensure that these games will allow them to thrive while also enjoying themselves. As one player noted, there is no pressure. But there is, the best kind though, the pressure they place on themselves. At the same time, they discover a new side of the players they’ve competed against, or read about, for the past four years because now they are teammates. Much like the journey many of them will make on college teams, or as college students, I’d like to believe this game is about their opportunity to prance, to display their spirit and their skills, and they always deliver. Thanks!

Here is a slideshow of my photos.

I’m going home to get some rest. I’ll be back tomorrow to point you to the professional writers who were out to cover the game. Enjoy.

Facebook photo album - Girls Game - and - Boys Game - tag yourself and become a fan of SGFsoccer.com.

Girls game at 6:00 pm
Boys game at 8:00 pm

First played in December 2004, the game is dedicated to recognizing High School seniors who have exhibited skill and leadership on the pitch. The players in that initial game, and subsequent, consider it a significant event in their High School playing career. We hope today’s players enjoy the same experience.

The All-Star rosters feature over 30 players headed for college careers following tonight’s game.
* Missouri State has signed three (Tara Bailes, Heath Melugin and Justin Scicluna - West Plains)
* Drury has signed a pair (Katy McLain, Kyler Temple) from Kickapoo.
* Missouri Southern has four (Brianna Ragains - Lebanon, Randi Russell & Stephanie Taylor - Joplin and Stuart Ziegler - West Plains)
* Missouri S&T has signed one (Zack Hay).
* Southwest Baptist has a pair headed to Bolivar (Natasha Lord - Waynesville, Blair Baker - Camdenton).

Chealsey Russell (Kickapoo) is headed for Rice (D1), although she is injured tonight
Katie Pritchard, who set a State career scoring record with 171 goals will play basketball for the Drury Panthers.

The Great Lakes Valley Conference is also represented by Anne Prenger (Catholic, UMSL) and Tyler McElroy heads for Rockhurst. The MIAA Conference has additional representation with Lou Opfer (Glendale/Truman State).

Robbie Curtis (Ozark/Springfield Demize) has signed to play for last year’s NCAA D2 finalists, Lincoln Memorial University.

There is a total of 15 players who were recognized at the All-State level as well, across all classes.

Dr Rusty Bond joins us from the Cox Health Athletic Advantage program. Check out the information on their services on the back cover of the program.

Thank you to Cox Health Athletic Advantage, Lake Country Soccer, J&K Soccer, The Copy Shoppe, Baywash Car Wash in Cassville as well as the Springfield Demize and Coester’s, for their support of the game and these players..

The event is organized jointly by SGFsoccer.com, Southwest Missouri’s soccer resource, and Springfield Soccer Club, home to over 20 teams including the two time State Champions and Regional Semi-Finalists, the U17 boys team.

For additional information, please contact:
Steve Ole Olson —– Jeremy Alumbaugh
SGFsoccer.com —– SpringfieldSportsClub.com

We’ve got a full day today folks.

Turn your radio on this morning, Thursday at 9:30am. Catch All-Stars organizer and Springfield SC Director of Coaching Jeremy Alumbaugh with All-Stars Katy McLain, Heath Melugin and Tara Bailes on JOCK 98.7, The Sports Reporters

In addition to watching the finest seniors in Southwest Missouri tonight, you can also catch the 1st Quarterfinal match of the European Championships today. Germany takes on Portugal at 1:45 pm, consider coming by Coester’s for a pre-game meal. Great soccer and the food is uniformly good.

The Girls game is at 6:00 pm.
The Boys game is at 8:00 pm.
Cooper Field #1 at Lake Country Soccer on Pythian Street in Springfield. Players need to register at the field 1.5 hours in advance of the game. Remember to bring your cleats, shin guards, white socks, black shorts, a water bottle and be prepared for the warm evening.

The lineups were announced earlier this week. Boys lineup. Girls lineup.

The Coaches for this evenings games include:
Girls Red: Jeff Rogers, Glendale Falcons and Evan Palmer, Nixa Eagles. The Falcons returned to the Quarterfinals this year for the first time since 2004. Evans working on replacing the Eagle’s top 2 career goal scorers on the girls team.
Girls Gold: Tom Davidson, Ozark Tigers and Ben Timson, Catholic Fightin’ Irish. The Tigers won their 1st ever large school District title this year while getting Tom his 500th win as a coach. The Irish made it to the Class 1 Quarterfinals yet again.

Boys Red: Eric Crain, New Covenant Academy and Mike Gow, Lebanon Yellowjackets. The Warriors earned their first District title in Fall 2007. Gow wraps up 12 years with the Yellowjackets this past Spring and heads for the sideline with the Waynesville Tigers in the Fall.
Boys Gold: Phil Hodge, Kickapoo Chiefs and Mike Howard, Rolla Bulldogs. The Chiefs were the #1 Public School boys team in 2007, taking 3rd place at the State Finals in Phil’s first season as head coach. Mike Howard earned his 500th win in the third game of the girls season.

Our Announcer this evening will be Bob Florez, who also handles the microphone for the Missouri State Bears men’s team. He’ll see two future Bears on the pitch this evening - Heath Melugin (Kickapoo) and Justin Scicluna (West Plains).

We will have Dr. Rusty Bond, a Cox Health sports medicine physician on the sidelines along with a trainer from the Athletic Advantage program at Cox. Dr Bond is part of the Southwest Spine and Sport office at Cox as well as the father of All-Star Jamie Bond (#4 on the Red squad). Thanks to Cox Health for their support of the players and this game.

Referee’s this evening include
Girls
Elizabeth Unruh - Referee
Andy Ellsworth - AR
Anthony Solari - AR

Boys
Trey Smith - Referee
Anthony Solari - AR
Todd McCutcheon - AR

Sponsors of this years event, in addition to Cox Health Athletic Advantage, include Lake Country Soccer, the Springfield Demize, Coesters Restaurant, The Copy Shoppe, J&K Soccer, Baywash Car Wash in Cassville as well as Rick & Tami Dorman and the Booster Clubs at Kickapoo, Glendale, Catholic and Ozark. Thanks as well to the Opfer family, including Scott, Tracy, Austin, Alix and Kasey; The Melugin family, including Phil, Kim, Megan and Miriam; and the Bailes family, including Scott, JoAnn, Allie and Mandy.

You’ll get a final glimpse of Katie Pritchard, Class 2 career scoring leader, before she puts on her Converse and heads for the gym (they still wear Converse, right?) at Drury.

There are 18 All-State players participating in the game. There are over 30 players headed for college careers following tonight’s game. Missouri State has signed three (Tara Bailes, Heath Melugin and Justin Scicluna - West Plains) and Drury has signed a pair (Katy McLain, Kyler Temple) from Kickapoo.

Missouri Southern has four (Brianna Ragains, Randi Russell, Stephanie Taylor and Stuart Ziegler) while Missouri S&T has signed one (Zack Hay). Southwest Baptist has a pair headed to Bolivar (Natasha Lord, Blair Baker). Chealsey Russell is headed for Rice (D1) while Anne Prenger will be at UMSL (D2) and Lou Opfer at Truman State (D2) which means we’ll see them when they play Drury, MSSU or SBU.

There are 5 players who follow older siblings in representing their school at the All-Star game. Zack Hay’s older brother Nick played in the first game in December 2004, Ryan Schlichtman’s older brother Nick, now at Truman State, played in 2006. Tyler McElroy’s older sister Laura played last year, and was Freshman player of the Year for Grinnell this past season at GK. Carter McKay’s older brother Adam played in the first game in December 2004 and Erica Hogan’s older sister Melissa played last year (Ozark).

So there are plenty of great stories and it’s always a competitive game. Josh Scott coaches his final game before becoming AD at Waynesville, he’s joined by Mike Gow on the sideline. They’ll face off against Phil Hodge and Mike Howard in the boys game. Tom Davidson (Ozark) and Jeff Rogers (Glendale) face off for the hundredth time it seems as they will both patrol the sideline during the girls game, assisted by Ben Timson (Catholic) and Evan Palmer (Nixa). For Tom, it will be one last time to coach his former Kickapoo players.

We hope to see you at Cooper Soccer Complex at Lake Country Soccer in Springfield on Thursday evening. Girls play at 6:00 pm and Boys play at 8:00 pm. Represent!

All-Star game flyer

Graduating Seniors from Central Missouri will be selected to play in the first annual games. Forty men, in two teams of twenty and likewise for the women will play a ninety minute game in front of family, friends, and spectators. There will also be a clinic for area youngsters, a meal for the players, practice time, and certificates/awards for the players. The game will be Friday, June 13, 2008. and will be played at Columbia Soccer Club’s Pride Park.

The Camenton Lakers are well represented on the roster, with Josh Baldwin, Chris Byington and Zach Helms on the men’s team while Blaire Baker, Alisha Morice and Meg Manzer will represent the Lady Lakers. The full list can be found here. While you check out the list, check out the whole website which will be representing Mid-Missouri Soccer.

Congratulations to all the players and welcome to the blogosphere MidMoSoccer.com!

The Kansas City Wizards announced the tryout times for the five KCW Juniors teams. The KCW Juniors will have teams in the U-13, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18 age groups for the 2008-2009 season and designate six Technical Staff members to those teams. The Wizards will also form a U-19 squad for players returning from college to have a place to train and a way to stay connected to the organization. The U-19 team will begin training this week.

Tryouts will be held June 14-15 for the U-13 team and June 16-18 for the U-15 through U-18 age groups. All tryouts will be held at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center. To register for tryouts, visit kcwizards.com.

“We are very pleased to add two age groups to our program this year and build upon the success experienced in year one of the KCW Juniors program,” Technical Director Peter Vermes said. “We have assembled a great staff of coaches and have a beautiful facility for these young soccer players to utilize. With these resources, we look forward to developing the next generation of Kansas City Wizards players.”

The 2008-2009 season will be important for the KCW Juniors program as members of the U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams will be eligible to compete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy beginning in 2009-2010. Next season, the KCW Juniors U-16 and U-18 teams will compete against the best youth clubs from around the country under U.S. Soccer’s umbrella. Beginning in 2009, both the U-16 and U-18 KCW Juniors teams will be fully funded.

“The members of our U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams will train this season with an eye toward joining the Development Academy next year,” KCW Juniors DOC Jon Parry said. “U.S. Soccer has put together a great program that will help develop the elite player in this country, and we look forward to joining in 2009. Our goal is to have one of the strongest clubs in the country beginning with our first season in the Development Academy.”

Six members of Kansas City’s world-class Technical Staff will focus on the KCW Juniors, including Vermes, KCW Juniors Director of Coaching Jon Parry and Paul Rideout, who served as the head coach for all three KCW Juniors teams during the 2007-2008 season. Rideout is a former English Premier League player who scored a game-winning goal for Everton in the 1995 FA Cup final.

In addition, former MLS player Daouda Kante (U-13), Kansas City native Randall Porter (U-15, U-16) and Trinidad and Tobago native Romothy Quashie (goalkeepers) will be added to the staff in 2008-2009. As an added benefit due to his vision for the future of the Kansas City Wizards First Team, Vermes will use a hands-on approach in conjunction with Jon Parry for the KCW Juniors program in talent identification and training/development strategies. This will allow the Wizards training philosophies to remain consistent throughout the organization from the First Team’s starting 11 to the members of the KCW Juniors U-13 team.

“We have put together an excellent group of soccer minds that have vast playing and coaching experience,” Parry said. “Our coaches have been through the rigors of playing highly competitive soccer and will be able to help our KCW Juniors players prepare themselves for the highest levels of competition.”

Each KCW Juniors team will practice a minimum of three times per week at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center. Speed, strength, agility and conditioning will be major focuses of KCW Juniors training. Kansas City Wizards Fitness Coach Dave Tenney and Scott Moody, founder and CEO of Center for Athletic Performance (CAP), will oversee training regiments for all Juniors teams. Juniors goalkeepers will also receive goalkeeper-specific training twice per week from Quashie.

“We are proud that the technology and know-how from which our Major League Soccer players benefit will be available to our youth players as well,” Vermes said. “We strive to make every aspect of our organization world class from top to bottom. This is another example of that commitment.”

2008-2009 KCW Juniors Teams and Coaches

KCW Juniors DOC - Jon Parry
U-13 Boys - Daouda Kante / Paul Rideout / Randall Porter
U-15 Boys - Jon Parry / Randall Porter
U-16 Boys - Paul Rideout / Jon Parry / Randall Porter
U-17 Boys - Paul Rideout / Jon Parry
U-18 Boys - Paul Rideout / Jon Parry
U-19 Boys - Jon Parry / Peter Vermes
Goalkeepers - Romothy Quashie

Date / Time - KCW Juniors Team

Saturday, June 14
11:00am-1:00pm U-13
Sunday, June 15
5:00pm-7:00pm U-13
Monday, June 16
1:00pm-2:45pm U-18
3:00pm-5:00pm U-17
5:15pm-7:15pm U-15
7:30pm-9:30pm U-16
Tuesday, June 17
1:00pm-2:45pm U-18
3:00pm-5:00pm U-17
5:15pm-7:15pm U-15
7:30pm-9:30pm U-16
Wednesday, June 18
1:00pm-2:45pm U-18
3:00pm-5:00pm U-17
5:15pm-7:15pm U-15
7:30pm-9:30pm U-16

Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
6310 Lewis Road
Kansas City, MO 64132

In Penalty Kicks, the Springfield SC won 5-4 in 7 kicks. Captain Ryan Squires buried the 5th shot and the Fusz player put his shot over the crossbar, giving the defending Champions their second straight title. Goalkeeper Tommy Tombridge stopped two shots in the shootout, including the 5th won that could have won it for Fusz.

I got to the Complex early and the U16 game was 0-0 when Scott Gallagher loses their goalkeeper to a foul outside the box. A defender steps in, regulation ends and it goes to OT. I’ll let “Goalz” from the STLsoccer.net message board tell the story:

4 goals in overtime…first one was by a great Busch shot from Dominic Hewitt off a rebound. Then a 35 yard cannon from James Meyerkord leveled it up. After that Busch answers on a free-kick from outside the box by Joe Bettger that would surely put it away…

But the SG side showed resilience to come back from a goal in OT for a second time by getting a somewhat questionable PK for many Busch fans. Great run by the Gallagher player. Mike Yuede finished the PK…and the whole time gallagher was playing a man down with a field player in goal.

In PKs each team made all 5, but the SG keeper (a field player) made a lunging save on the 6th to give his team an advantage. The 6th SG player scored.

I’ve got a few photos from the game you can see here via slideshow

I’ll be back with Nick Schmitt’s article by dinner time. Game pictures have been posted.

Tom Davidson – A Family Man and a Man of Passion

Tom Davidson grew up in Colorado, Springs, CO. He played soccer in high school and his Dad was his coach. Tom played sweeper a little bit in high school. “I always preferred playing in the back. I liked watching the game. But he also played center midfield and forward. “It gave me a different perspective just being able to play all over the field.”

Tom played soccer at Missouri Southern from 1984-1988. In College the coach ended up playing a 4-3-3 and Tom ended up playing Left Forward. “I played with a guy that was the Center Forward that was at the time, our all-time leading scorer at Southern. His name was Mike Bryson and he taught me a lot about just how to play forward. What to do and where to go and that kind of stuff. We had pretty good Chemistry. That’s where I ended up playing, basically my whole career.” The next two seasons Davidson helped coach the team under the direction of Jack Spurlin and Scott Poertner. The spring of 1991 proved to be a very eventful one for Tom. He got engaged to his wife Missy and also graduated from Missouri Southern.

Although it was time for Tom to move on, Missy had another year left in college. But things worked out. The Head Soccer Coaching position came open at Kickapoo High School in Springfield. Tom was hired in June to become the second Head Soccer Coach at Kickapoo, taking over for Jose Florez who started the program in 1984. Things worked out great as Tom and Missy would be just an hour away.

I asked Tom, “What do you remember from your first year as a coach?”

“I think you come out and you really think that you kind of know quite a bit about the game and about kids and stuff and I don’t think you do. That first year, I had a real talented team. I had a couple of kids that went to Drury that year. Brett Ulrich who is now my assistant coach at Ozark, he played forward for us that year. He was a Senior. He went to Missouri Southern. We were very talented. We had a good goalkeeper. But my biggest challenge was the parents. I felt, ‘hey, I could run the show pretty well’ and they had been use to running the show. The challenge of breaking that cycle was probably my biggest challenge.”

“I just remember that first couple of games kind of having this preconceived notion in your head, how it was suppose to be. And it really wasn’t like that. Those are some of the things I remember. The District tournament that year was held at Lake Country and it was brutally cold. There were only 8 teams in the area (in Class 4A) so we had an 8-team District. And you seeded 1-8 and it was 5 Springfield Schools, Joplin, Carthage, and I think Neosho. We got seeded second and then made it to the Final and then lost to Glendale in the Final that very first year. They had a good team. That was Chris Hendricks and Ty Keisker. That was a good team, too (Glendale went to the Final 4 that year).

That rivalry, it was so great to be involved with all those years. It started right after that. I had a lot of good times. Mike Hines was with me that 1st year.

The success would continue for Davidson as he continued to build on the Kickapoo tradition. In 1995, his team captured the first of six District Titles under his leadership and advanced to the State Quarterfinal, losing just three games in the process. In 1996, however a very talented Chiefs team made history by reaching the Final Four and finishing in a tie for 3rd Place. Tom’s top memory from coaching came in 1996 in the State Quarterfinal against Columbia Hickman. “They had beat us 3 weeks earlier in the regular season. They had beaten us 5-0. So just overcoming all those odds, It’s still one of those classic moments. Us being up 2-0, and then them coming back and tying it. It went to 12 Penalty Kicks. I’ll never forget any of that. Kickapoo won the Penalty Kick Shootout 10-9.

Kiley Cirillo, Missouri Southern Lions Head Coach, was a Senior on the 1996 Kickapoo team. Kiley (pictured below at an MSSU game last Fall) shared these thoughts on Coach Davidson:

“I think that the best way to describe Coach D is Integrity and the courage to keep that integrity in the face of adversity. I can remember Coach D was always willing to choose truth over popularity. Coach D was always willing to teach mistakes and never discouraged making them as long as we could learn to take the lessons from them. He pushed us out of our comfort zones only to help us feel comfort there.

Coach has and continues to have a huge influence on my life. He is still there if I need him and I know that he will always be willing to listen and give advice, but he also is never afraid to tell me that he does not have the answer and that is one of the things I admire most. He is okay with not knowing it all.

I think he coaches to be a better man, person, friend, mentor, leader and failure and these are the choices that he has taught me to measure my life by. Thank you Coach Davidson and congratulations on your 500th win.

Although 1996 provided the best finish for his boys teams, that wasn’t the end all. In addition to making it to the Final Four in 1996, Davidson’s Chiefs won 8 Ozark Conference Championships, 6 District Championships, made 4 State Quarterfinal appearances and compiled a 265-105-41 record in 16 seasons.

As successful as the boys program was at Kickapoo under Davidson’s leadership, the girls program was even more successful. Tom began coaching the girls in 1995, when the Springfield schools began playing games against each other. In 1996, the teams started play under MSHSAA guidelines and began competing in District play. In 12 seasons of MSHSAA sanctioned play, Kickapoo reached the District Final every season and won 9 District Championships. Former Lady Chief, Kaysie Griffin, had this to say about her former leader:

“I played for Coach at Kickapoo High School from 1998 to 2001. I started Varsity for him all 4 years. I have had a ton of coaches in my day, by far Davidson is the best Coach I have ever had! He helped shape me not only as a player but as a person also. Its an honor to be his assistant coach at Ozark. I’m learning how to be a good Coach by the best coach in Missouri.”

In 2002, the Lady Chiefs matched the success of the boys with their own memorable State Quarterfinal on their own magical run to the Final Four. “The Girls Quarterfinal game in 2002 when we beat Rockwood Summit was just….. I remember turning to my assistant coach, Jena Knopf, and when the last whistle blew and I turned and I said ‘We’re going to the Final Four. I mean we’re going.’ It was just one of those surreal moments when just….even driving up there I remember thinking, ‘Keep the game close’. But our girls just played out of their minds that day. And then, we didn’t have a great experience when we got to the Final Four, but……”

As Head Coach of the Kickapoo girls program, Davidson lead the Lady Chiefs to a 217-67-22 record in 12 seasons including 6 Ozark Conference Championships, 9 District Championships, 3 State Quarterfinal appearances, and 1 trip to the Final Four..

Nick Schmitt: “What are some of your other top memories?”
Tom Davidson: “I remember several of the Glendale games. I’ll never forget Jack Jewsbury’s sophomore year which was that ’96 team. Glendale had beaten us 2 years previous (1994) in the
District Final and we ended up winning that game 2-0. Just played an outstanding game.”

Jack Jewsbury (pictured), who now plays for the Kansas City Wizards, offered these words about Coach Davidson and what he has meant to him:

“To me, Coach Davidson has not only been good coach on the field, but has also been a great friend off it. He is someone that has taken his passion for soccer and spread that love for the game to myself and all the kids that have passed through his programs. He continues to be successful no matter what challenges he faces and I want to congratulate him for reaching this amazing accomplishment.”

The spring of 2007 brought some news that came as a surprise to some people. Tom Davidson left Kickapoo High School to become the Head Soccer Coach at Ozark. “One of the reasons I moved to Ozark, my big reason was family. If anybody knows, I’m a big family man. That was the big reason was my family. I want to be able to say ‘ Hey. This guy was a well rounded guy. He didn’t neglect his family as he was doing all these things and helping so many people out.’

Although Tom has changed his colors and location, little else has changed. His first Tigers team finished 16-8-0. Entering his 30th season this spring, Tom has never had a losing season.

NS: “What do you think has made you successful as a coach?”
TD: “To me, I think I’m good to the kids. And I think I kind of figure out what makes them tick. I’m not a great motivator, I don’t think, but they trust me. I think that, especially with girls, that’s a big part of it. If they trust you, they’re gonna play hard for you. I’ve always felt like that’s what we’ve
done. We’ve always tried to treat kids fairly too. And I think kids really understand that. Parents don’t understand that sometimes. But kids understand that ‘Hey, he’s just trying to help me. He’s trying to treat me fairly.

NS: “When you first started, did you ever think you would win 500 games?”
TD: “No. I remember saying to somebody several years ago, ‘I’ll never be that guy that has coached for 20-25 years. At some point in time I’ll of just had enough.’ And now, I don’t see an end in sight. My son is in kindergarten and my goal is to at least get him to graduate high school 11-12 years
from now. But if I continue to enjoy what I’m doing, then I don’t see a reason to stop doing it unless I’m just completely neglecting my family.”

NS: “What does 500 victories mean to you?”
TD: “I obviously have been thinking about it a lot. I started really thinking about it this fall. Because when it became kind of a reality this fall, I really started thinking about it. I think it’s more than anything, it’s about all those kids that took what we had to offer and were successful with it. And all those great moments that I had with kids that we were able to achieve something together. And when I look back on it now, it’s all those battles we had with other coaches and other programs and some of those nights that you think that you got out-coached, but you still won the game. Or you out-coached the other guy and that was satisfying too. But I think more than anything, as I started reflecting on it this fall, I started reflecting on all the faces and all the people that had gone through my program for all those years, boys and girls.

NS: “Anything you want to say to the soccer community?”
TD: “Especially here in the Springfield area, we need to continue to grow the sport and continue to have more kids playing and more clubs come about. And include more of the area. Those things, we should be able to, our community, I’m talking about our whole…all the way down to where you guys are (West Plains) and everything, our whole community here in Southwest Missouri, should be able, there’s enough people living here now, that our sport should be able to have a few club teams. And have a
league, when the kids get to high school and not have to funnel everybody into one competitive league. Because in high school that waters down the high school programs if there’s less kids playing club ball. We’re to that point right now, where we should have lots of kids playing. I should here at Ozark. You should at West Plains and Mike (Howard) at Rolla and Mike (Gow) at Lebanon. Everybody should have 8 or 10 club players that are playing for them that are good players. We’re getting to the point where we’re growing where that’s a possibility. I would like to see that grow, because it only helps all of us.

NS: “Any thing we have missed?”
TD: ”To my wife Missy. All the success I have in my career is because you have always stood by me. It’s your unconditional love that has made me the man I am today. Your unwavering support has let me pursue one of my passions in life. Coaching has taught me many things about how to treat people and motivate them. I could not have done this without you helping along the way. You are my rock and I’m so thankful the Lord has put you on my TEAM. You and our family are my dreams come true.”

Tom. In writing this article, it has become quite obvious to me that you have meant as much to the people whose lives you have touched as they have meant to you. You have meant so much to this community and we are the better for you being here. Congratulations on 500 victories!
==================================
The story above is an abridged version of an in-depth interview that West Plains Coach, and History teacher, Nick Schmitt conducted with Tom Davidson earlier this month in anticipation of reaching 500 wins. The complete interview will be available as part of Schmitt’s book, tentatively titled “Pursuit of a Championship: The History of High School Soccer in Southwest Missouri” which he hopes to have available in the Spring of 2009. Thanks to Coach Schmitt for sharing it with my readers.

(Waynesville AD John) Morrison confirmed this week that Mike Armstrong, a current assistant for the WHS girls’ soccer team, and Mike Gow, currently the boys’ and girls’ soccer head coach at Ozark Conference rival Lebanon, have been hired to run the WHS soccer programs. Each will be a head coach, with the other serving as his assistant.

Armstrong was hired as the Waynesville boys’ soccer head coach as well as the Lady Tigers’ assistant coach. Gow was hired to be the WHS girls’ soccer head coach and will be the boys’ assistant.

Mike is pictured at a Hillcrest Girls game last Spring. His record in seven years at the school is 81-89-7 for the boys, including three winning seasons and Boys Coach of the Year for District 11 in 2002. His six seasons at the helm of the Girls program includes a 64-65-5 record including three straight winning seasons the past three years. He was Girls Coach of the Year for District 11 last Spring. He also coached the Red All-Stars squad at the initial Girls game in 2006.

Mike will finish the season with Lebanon where I fully expect another winning season. And no, this is not an April Fool’s joke folks!

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Mike Howard has come a long way. It all began for Howie, as a young boy growing up in the soccer-crazed town of Quincy, Illinois. In 1978, his family moved to Sedalia, Missouri. Mike attended Smith-Cotton High School where he was a three-year Varsity player. In 1984, Howie was a 1st Team All-District Defender for the Tigers, who became the first non-St. Louis School to reach the Final Four. The Tigers finished 4th in the State after losing to DeSmet in the State Semifinal and losing 4-2 to McCluer in the 3rd Place Game. In 1985, Howard was named as an All-State Defender as the Tigers defeated Joplin in a Sectional match before falling in the State Quarterfinals 4-3 to Vianney.

Howard didn’t have to go far to continue his playing career. For the next two years he starred as a defender for State Fair Community College in Sedalia. In 1986, Mike was named to the All-Midwest team. It was there that Howard’s playing career ended. He had a scholarship offer to play soccer at Benedictine College for John Senkosky, but decided to attend Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri).

In 1991, Mike was hired to coach soccer at Rolla High School. The boys program was just a year old. Larry Roth led the program to an 8-11-1 record in it’s inaugural season (1990). Mike’s pictured at left following the win Saturday at the new soccer facility that his teams now enjoy, one of the finest in the region.

In his first season as a Head Coach, Howard led the Bulldogs to an 8-10-2 record, one of only two losing seasons in his coaching career. Things began to change quickly. In 1992 Rolla improved it’s record to 13-5-1, but still failed to win a district game.

The 1993 season caught everybody by surprise. The Bulldogs won a district game for the first time. They didn’t stop there though. In the District Final, Rolla squared off against their rival, the Waynesville Tigers. The Bulldogs prevailed 5-1 to capture their first District Title. In the State Sectional Match, Rolla dispatched of the Joplin Eagles 3-1 and advanced to face the Jefferson City Jays in the Quarterfinals. It took Four Overtimes, but the victory went to the Bulldogs 2-1, and Rolla was on to the Final Four.

In the State Semifinal, Rolla met up with the DeSmet Spartans, a team that included current LA Galaxy player Chris Klein. The Spartans prevailed 1-0, but the Bulldogs showed very well. In the 3rd Place Game, Rolla faced off against Parkway South. Parkway South won 1-0. The Bulldogs had nothing to hang their heads about. Making it to the Final Four is an awesome feat for a program in just it’s fourth year.

One of Coach Howard’s top memories is: “Going to the Final Four obviously, in 1993 in my third year of coaching. Pretty much just dumb luck. We had some great kids, very good athletes and they were very mentally tough. They probably went to the Final Four in spite of me, I would say, to be honest with you.”

One of the stars of that team was All-State Forward, Mike Kiefer. Kiefer would later serve as an assistant coach at Rolla under Mike Howard. Mike Kiefer offered these thoughts on Coach Howard:

First of all I would like to congratulate Coach Howard on reaching the milestone. It says a ton about his dedication to remain at one school and to accumulate such an accomplishment. However, like all great coaches, Coach Howard’s success goes above and beyond the wins and losses that are achieved on the field.

I had the privilege of playing for Mike during his first three seasons at Rolla. Like many young coaches getting their first head coaching opportunity, he inherited a program that was not an ideal situation to say the least. Throughout the years he overcame the great challenge of building and molding a successful program that had only been in existence one year prior to his arrival. Like any coach that lacks head coaching experience, there were tough times early and mistakes that were made along the way (one of which was not playing me enough as a sophomore:)). In reality, our disappointing seasons in Mike’s first two years were not a reflection of his abilities as a coach. The problem was we were not a very talented or disciplined group. However to Coach’s credit he persevered, instilled some discipline into the program, and became a highly successful coach.

Like all outstanding coaches, Mike Howard leaves an impression on his players that often extends beyond the field of play.

The Bulldog program under Mike Howard has been very successful. In 17 seasons as Head Coach, Howard has compiled a record of 264-124-34, including a Team record 22 wins in 2002. During his tenure the Bulldogs have made it to the District Final 14 times (every year since 1993, except 2000) – coming out victorious ten times, made four State Quarterfinal appearances and one trip to the Final Four.

But that is only half of the story. In 1996, Rolla started a girls soccer program. That first year, the Lady Bulldogs posted a record of 14-6-0. It is the only season the they haven’t reach the District Final. In 1997, RHS made their first District Final appearance, losing in Overtime to Kickapoo.

The 1998 season was the beginning of a great streak for the Lady Bulldogs. Led by Three-time All-State selection, KC Williams (now KC Curler), and a Freshman named Anne Felts, Coach Howard and the RHS team won their first District title and reached the State Quarterfinals, something they would accomplish for four straight seasons. KC Curler not only played for Coach Howard during that time, but would later become an assistant under Howard. KC (pictured with current senior captain Kaitlyn Bramel following the Quarterfinal loss to Nerinx Hall in 2005) had this to say about him:

Coach Howard, is a superb coach. I have been fortunate to have played for him and coach with him. He takes pride in what he does and works hard and that shows in his teams. Congratulations Coach.

Top memories? “Coaching Anne Felts would have to be pretty high up there on my list.”

And Coach Howard is up there on her list to. Anne’s thoughts on her former Coach:

One of the reasons I think Coach Howard is such a great coach, is because he can dissect the game and make it understandable and doable for anyone. He has such a unique challenge in Rolla, where he coaches beginning players, three-sport athletes, and year-round soccer players, and he has the ability to form them into a successful team. He has something to offer to every player.

I find it really difficult to pick his best quality as a coach. He can gauge what his team needs, he knows what to bring to the team in all different situations.

For me, he helped me define myself as a player. He helped me realize my strengths, and taught me how I could exploit other team’s weaknesses. We always had fun - you play better when you’re having fun. Somehow he made running fitness fun…

It’s really hard for me to convey the magnitude of the impact he has had on me. He and his family are wonderful people to be around and be associated with. His players are incredibly lucky to have him for their coach.

NS: “Anything that we haven’t covered?”
MH: “My nice wife (Angie Howard). She’s been with me the whole time I’ve been here.”
Angie is pictured with Mike, again following the Quarterfinal game in 2005 at Waynesville.

I first met Mike Howard in the Fall of 1996 at our All-District meeting when I the Assistant Coach at West Plains. The next year I became the Head Coach at the ripe old age of 24. Over the years I have learned a lot from Mike Howard both directly and indirectly. He is humble in victory and gracious in defeat. We have shared some good times off the field and had some great games on the field. I am proud to call Mike Howard a friend. Congratulations Howie! I hope I have done you justice.