Coaching has the power to make or break a team. When a new coach steps in, a team can be completely uprooted and reshaped- for better or worse. Every change in leadership creates a fresh start, a new chapter filled with untapped potential.
The two-time state champion boys’ soccer team is beginning a new chapter of their own with the arrival of their new head coach, Jovan Sudar. With his years of dedication to the sport, Sudar brings lots of experience to the team.
“I’ve been involved in soccer for nearly my whole life. After high school, I went to Europe and played a bit of soccer down there. Then I started coaching, and I’ve been coaching for close to 15 years now. Right now, I’m at the Omaha United Soccer Club, and I have around 10 years of experience at the high school level,” Sudar said.
Sudar’s vast experience and fresh perspectives are expected to help propel this team to new heights.
“He’s got very high expectations. He’s expecting a lot from us, so there’s a bit of pressure there,” senior winger Ayrton Kline said.
A change in coaching is always stressful for athletes as they adjust to differing coaching styles and preferences, but the team is adapting smoothly, embracing the challenges and changes.
“Whenever a new coach comes in, there’s new expectations because it’s different from what you’ve been expecting the last six or seven years,” Shaun Hoover, the junior varsity coach, said.
“He’s definitely changed our mindset. We’ve had a lot of practices, about 40 so far, and we’ve trained way harder. So now, we have a better idea for state and where we’re going to be positioned,” junior defensive back Gannon Timmermier said. “[The change] is hard, but I think we’re adapting well.”
Last year, the varsity team fell just short of making state, losing in the district finale. This year, however, hopes run high, and both the teams and the coaches are optimistic about what the future holds.
“Obviously, in the past, we’ve done a lot of things but didn’t quite reach our goals [of making state]. So [Sudar’s] new perspective and new thoughts will be interesting,” Hoover said.
Sudar brings with him a history of success and a wealth of experience, placing emphasis especially on the more technical, fundamental aspects of the game.
“We focus on training and technique… we focus a lot on working on footwork and improving our technique and our passing, so later on we can implement that in the game,” Sudar said.
The team is putting a lot of work into the technical skills, cleaning up passes, and refining footwork to ensure more fluid gameplay.
To achieve this fluidity, Sudar is pushing the athletes to work harder, emphasizing conditioning and ball control, working to nail the fundamentals. He’s also increasing both the number and length of practices, especially in the offseason. Yet, this is not the only change Sudar is implementing.
“His idea is to practice varsity and JV in the same field. In the past, we kind of went our separate ways and did our own drills, and now we’ll do them all together,” Hoover said.
This integration between teams will encourage more movement and communication between the teams, giving players opportunities to grow. Additionally, the increased interaction between teams is strengthening team spirit and mutual trust.
“My favorite part [of playing soccer] is definitely the team dinners and the friends I’ve made,” Timmermier said.
With the additional practices, the bonds between teammates have deepened as they work together in the long hours of the off-season.
“If anything, Sudar has brought us closer because we’ve done a lot of training in the off-season, which we didn’t do a lot with our previous coach. So we’ve spent a lot more time together, which you could argue that it’s brought us closer together,” Kline said.
Strong relationships with teammates are vital to a successful team, as is having strong mutual respect and camaraderie with the coaches. The team’s coaches work diligently to build this respect, which is integral to the team.
“I love the camaraderie and the relationships you develop with the athletes. Seeing students out on the playing field instead of in a classroom is a different dynamic,” Hoover said.
But, leadership doesn’t only come from the coaches. Sudar is impressed with the initiative and mentorship the athletes themselves have shown.
“The senior leadership, it’s really amazing. The boys have bought into what we’re trying to preach here as coaches, and the leadership has been amazing from the seniors,” Sudar said.
Overall, the boys’ soccer team is looking strong and feeling hopeful for their future with Sudar at the helm. The community is tighter than ever, and hopes for the season are running high.
“Last year, we made it to the district finals, and I’m hoping we can do that again this year but instead actually win. I’m hoping we can win metros, and if we can make it to state, that’s our goal right now,” Kline said. “…This is just a new challenge for us. It’s a new opportunity, I guess, and we’re all excited for it.”