SimpleCoach D3 Soccer YouTube Channel

[Hopkins92]

He's not saying he's a mad scientist... But he's kind of not saying he's not a mad scientist. ;-)

This is a really great interview, SC. I know I'm biased, but I guess I should also note that I haven't run around on this board being a fanboy, either. He is really an interesting guy that clearly does a lot of work that isn't just focused on soccer, but also on theories on leadership and growth and whole host of other topics.

Interesting guy, and I mean that as a compliment, for sure.

[Hopkins92]

Recap I posted to the fairly active Hopkins alumni Facebook page.

Season Preview with Coach A. He's always candid in these interviews and I really respect that. Some highlights:

Hop is losing 10(!) players from last year's squad. COVID extra year plus "natural" matriculation amounts to losing 2 classes in one fell swoop.

The freshman class is 9 strong. Coach thinks some can come in and contribute right away, BUT "it takes players 2.5 years to learn the system." Soooo... Yeah. The early-season trips to TN and OH are going to be really interesting and challenging (my words, not his).

Lots of really interesting insight into how Coach thinks about the development and evolution of the team. A number of different ways to say "it depends" but not in a dodgy way, just honest answers that amount to each iteration of these teams have their own story (again, I'm editorializing a little here.)

He self-effacingly brings up the moniker of mad-scientist. If you want to understand Coach A's mindset, and you only have a few minutes, head to minute 15:00. Fascinating.

I'll leave it there, as I don't want to write something that would take as long to read as simply watching the video.

Props to the interviewer, who is (as far as I know) the only guy in the country shining such a spotlight on D3 soccer. Hours and hours of interviews and shows breaking down match-ups and delivering his own rankings. Worth a follow, even if just to support what he's doing.

[EnmoreCat]

I've never watched Johns Hopkins play and understand they are a successful programme, but watching this interview it's pretty clear that there's a mad scientist lurking! I'm curious to know how players process what seems like a significant and possibly quite complex information download.  I know he does get intelligent players to work with, maybe that makes it easier. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Guessing he is referring to his PK strategy last year? He's willing to do different stuff last year though.  Previous to last year, Hop seemed to be pretty predictable.

Several other things. His run down of the Cent. Conf. is pretty accurate imo with Dickinson the one coming in the strongest this season. Interesting about losing 10. Question is what sort of grad students are they going to get who in the past have definitely impacted the squad. Offense may be a challenge for Hop, but that is pretty much every team in the Cent. Conf. other than Dickinson.

Surprised that W&L is not heading to Hop this year.  Usually its a home and home series with Hop going to W&L last year, but with two travel weekends in row in the beginning of the season I guess it could not be scheduled.

Get Dickinson's coach!!!

Get the Dickinson coach for an interview!!

[Hopkins92]

1) I was surprised SC didn't follow up on the Grad Transfer point, because Coach A specifically made a point that the new players # was strictly referring to freshmen. I'm assuming he has at least 2 or 3 because, yes, that has become a distinct part of his team-building strategy lately.

2) The mad scientist aspect included the PKs, but also that he would look at a player and put them in positions they had never been in before. He's taken CBs and put them at FWD and vice versa. So, not just the PK thing.

[SimpleCoach]

2025 Season Preview w/ Matt Weiss, Head Men's Coach @OhioWesleyanU

@NCAASoccer @UnitedCoaches

[SierraFD3soccer]

1) I was surprised SC didn't follow up on the Grad Transfer point, because Coach A specifically made a point that the new players # was strictly referring to freshmen. I'm assuming he has at least 2 or 3 because, yes, that has become a distinct part of his team-building strategy lately.

2) The mad scientist aspect included the PKs, but also that he would look at a player and put them in positions they had never been in before. He's taken CBs and put them at FWD and vice versa. So, not just the PK thing.

Agreed as to switching players. However, many coaches switch players around when first arriving and/or over the 4 years based on what they believe is best for the program.  Ex. Wagner from F&M took Oscar Horwitz, who had never been a striker and always been a back for his entire soccer career, and moved him forward in his sophomore year. I think it was because of his very nice goal against Hop that year.

[Hopkins92]

He didn't say he was THE mad scientist, just A mad scientist. ;-)

My coaching partner and I had a kid who was fast as hell and pretty small... and all her parents wanted was for her to be a striker. She left us to play for a big-time club (Bethesda) and paid a lot of money to try to make that position a reality.

When Bethesda said they were going to move her to the C team, her parents were livid. (The thing about this player is that she was hella fast and REALLY smart about her angles. But she had the yips and just couldn't finish.) We said she could come back to our team, but only on one condition: She was a natural center back, and she needed to give it a shot for one season.

That girl went on to start for her high school team at CB and won a state championship her junior year. Those parents are part of our friend group, and we give them grief about that issue from time to time.