At top of his class
Broomfield soccer coach Davidson makes Colorado adopted home
broomfield» Like so many other Colorado transplants, Jim Davidson said he came here to ski and ended up staying.
However, he has evolved into the opposite of so many who moved here. He and his wife, Kay, live in the big city and work in the suburbs. They have Chihuahuas and love it in Denver’s Highland area. And they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
“Things are good in Colorado,” Davidson said.
Actually, things are very good for Davidson. Exceptional, even.
Davidson has taken over the pitch as the state’s top soccer coach. Since 1997, he has led the Broomfield boys to six state championships and an incredible 307-37-23 record. And since 1998, he has overseen the Eagles girls to one Colorado championship and a 263-35-13 record.
“I will tell you,” said Dan Watkins, Wheat Ridge girls coach and president of the Colorado High School Soccer Coaches Association, “if there’s one person as a coach in Colorado, maybe even in any sport, that I could emulate and coach the same way and work the same way that he does, it would be Jim Davidson.
“He does everything the right way. He gets his kids to buy in and truly cares about them. He has created such a great tradition.”
Broomfield, which moved up to Class 5A in 2014, has made the playoffs every year Davidson has coached. The Eagles are regular representatives in state and national polls, and Davidson was named national coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches of America in January.
“He’s just a good person and an amazing tactician,” said Theresa Echtermeyer, who coaches the boys and girls soccer teams at Mountain Vista in Highlands Ranch.
Davidson, 45, said he has been greatly influenced as a coach by Echtermeyer, Vic Garcia of Lewis-Palmer, Art Drotar of Horizon and Tony Hurt of Heritage. Davidson has been involved with soccer since he was 6 and has the passion of an Englishman about the beautiful game. No, he can’t explain it.
“I don’t know exactly what it is,” he said. “It’s just such a great team sport, such a tactical game, such a cerebral game. It’s a game I’ve always loved being a part of.”
Davidson was good enough as a forward/midfielder to play in the Illinois state final for Naperville Central, then earn a scholarship to Eastern Illinois, where a four-year, up-and-down run culminated in him being named a captain and all-conference. Yet overall he called it “a mixed bag.”
Davidson began his high school teaching career at Jefferson in Edgewater. After a brief run, he got a job at Broomfield, also teaching English.
“I think I really found myself in a place where I’m, hopefully, worthy and I can contribute,” Davidson said. “I love teaching kids in the classroom. It’s an extension of the class room for soccer.” His players have noticed. “He’s nice and genuine,” said Michaela Stark, a senior who will play at Wyoming and has been part of three state runner-up teams. “He bleeds for the programs, and he’d do anything for us girls.”
Senior Porter Milner, who helped Broomfield to the past two 5A boys championships, said of Davidson: “He’s amazing. Everybody likes him, and everyone who ever played for him likes him. He’s an interesting guy, and he’s intelligent. It’s great how he handles both teams. And he’s a great mentor.”
Davidson will continue to coach the game he loves, and probably at Broomfield. And teaching. No reason to stop doing what he loves.
“I just love teaching and coaching, I love that balance,” Davidson said. “I don’t want to be that full-time soccer person. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about (moving up in the game’s ranks).
“Hopefully, I’m valuable at this level.”