HS BOYS SOCCER
How the late Brian Welsh shaped me as a coach
“The Autumn Wind is a Pirate. Blustering in from sea, With a rollicking song, he sweeps along,
Swagging Boisterously.”
The Autumn Wind is a poem written by Steve Sabol that epitomized everything that the Oakland Raiders stood for. Cue Jon Facenda’s iconic voice and you will get goosebumps listening to the poem about the start of the Fall season. I have really enjoyed watching the series “Hard Knocks” these past few weeks on HBO and for the record I am a die hard New York Jets fan. The passion and belief that Head Coach Jon Gruden instills in his Oakland Raiders football team reminds me so much of Coach Brian Welsh. I can vividly remember the way Coach Welsh would greet all his players on that first morning of the preseason. He was brash, loud and boisterous and we were mesmerized because he was the Captain of our Pirate Ship.
This past week I started my 20th year as a soccer coach at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South, my 10th season without my friend and mentor.
“Once a Raider, Always a Raider” was a mantra coined by the late owner Al Davis. If you worked for the Oakland Raiders organization you were forever a part of the family. Coach Welsh instilled this in all of us as players and students. For the past four decades, every player has worn a WWP Soccer spirit shirt. As I reflect on 20 years, two spirit shirts that I wore in the 1990’s as a player have guided me as an educator and coach. “You Gotta Believe” Even when everyone around you tries to tell you that you can’t. Don’t believe it. You can. Belief has always been the cornerstone of our program. Believe in them more than they believe in themselves. We played with passion and pride for our teammates because we knew Coach Welsh believed in us. The years after his death were filled with adversity but there was a belief that we could weather the sadness. A belief that ‘together’ we would persevere. Those young men, friends, coaches and families will forever have an imprint on my heart.
“It Takes a Little More”
To be called a coach is to be given an invaluable opportunity to matter in the lives of others. It is a role that I have never taken lightly. I wish I could say that I have built great relationships with all of my student athletes but that is simply not true. Some kids learn from you, but most importantly, you learn from all of them. You cannot be afraid to tell a kid you care about them or love them everyday. Coach Welsh used to say that we were fortunate to be able to play the game and that it was going to be hard, but that was the reward. Coaching is hard and the reward is the opportunity we have everyday to build relationships with our kids.
This years Brian ‘Maynard’ Welsh Cup game against Robbinsville HS (Head Coach Jeff Fisher, 2003 Pirate Soccer Alum and my brother) will be played at Rider University on October 26 at 10 a.m. My brother Jeff and I hope to see many alumni and friends that morning.
To me the Autumn Wind will always be a Pirate. Coach Welsh promoted a simple philosophy that we all rallied around. He made us play for something bigger than ourselves.
Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate.