Daily Reporter staff reports
FORTVILLE — Mt. Vernon girls soccer coach Steve Williams cares more about just wins and losses.
His teams have done plenty of winning during his coaching career, but it’s about more than that for the Marauders coach. He follows his players with their club teams, and he follows former players who have gone on to play in college. He tries to make it to their games.
Coaching is about more than just teaching high school soccer players for Williams.
“Coach Williams is always asking for our input on things, as he wants our opinion on what he is saying and teaching. He allows us to be us and is supportive of what we bring the team and who we are when we aren’t in season too,” Mt. Vernon sophomore Shay Shipley said. “Coach cares a lot about his players and wants to help us in any way possible. Coach truly wants what is best for us and couldn’t be anymore supportive than he already is.”
That kind of coaching, that kind of focus on development both on and off the field, led to Williams getting a big win of his own recently.
United Soccer Coaches, along with the association’s High School Coaches Advocacy Group, announced the recipients of the Third Annual High School Coach of Significance Award late last week. Williams was the winner for the state of Indiana, joining honorees from 40 other states as the program expanded this year.
“That was really special,” Williams said. “I didn’t expect it. It’s nice to get an honor for something that is more about off the field and relating to players. It meant the world to me.”
The High School Coach of Significance Award recognizes members who are coaching for character and using the soccer field to teach life lessons at the high school level. It is an opportunity for each state, in conjunction with United Soccer Coaches, to recognize coaches who are making an impact within their schools and communities well beyond their records of wins and losses, according to a press release announcing the awards.
Each of the High School Coach of Significance Award nominees are reviewed by the selection committee comprised of national, regional, and state representation.
“On behalf of the High School Advocacy Group of United Soccer Coaches, please join me in congratulating this year’s High School Coach of Significance selections,” Rusty Oglesby, High School Advocacy Group Chair, said in the press release. “These outstanding coaches represent the ultimate spirit of coaching while making an impact on player’s lives in all aspects of their core development both on and off the field. We are excited for these recipients and encourage all coaches to continue to strive for excellence and significance that goes beyond the white lines of the pitch.”
