killips_evans

Proud Accomplishments:

2005 Columbia County Coach of the Year
Coached 5 recipients of Presidential Scholarships in first 5 years at Evans
2003 Region 7 AAAAA champs
2004 Region 7 AAAAA champs
2005 AAAA state semifinalist
Beat two top 10 Nationally ranked teams (#1 ARC in 2003 and #7 Greenbrier in 2006)

Question: What advice would you give to young players entering high school who want to play soccer for their high school
team?

Work hard at every training session and establish good rapport with your coach and teammates. You will earn respect from great work
ethic and a good attitude.

Question: What training would you recommend for a high school player who is dedicated to improving him or her self in the
off season?

Work on your first touch as often as possible. A good first touch is what separates great players from good players. You should also do
speed and agility drills to insure that you are in top condition before your team begins training.

Question: What advice can you give to those athletes who are not as talented as the top players in the state, but want to
get better and compete on the high school level?

Report to training in top physical condition and do everything that your coach asks of you. This will probably include staying out of
trouble in your classes! If a kid works hard and is in good condition it makes them hard to cut. I would rather coach kids who are willing to
work hard than kids with tremendous talent but no desire to work hard.

Question: What special skills do you think a successful coach must possess to lead his or her team during the season?

First of all a coach needs to be dedicated to the team and its success. Players can tell if their coach is working hard for them and kids
will, in turn, play hard for their coach. My players appreciate the fact that I do a lot to scout our opponents to insure that they are ready to
play against them.

Question: How has being a teacher helped you become a better coach?

Teaching and coaching both share similar characteristics. For example, if a teacher is to be successful he or she must prepare lessons
and be able to accommodate the different learning abilities of students. The same goes for a coach – a successful coach must prepare
the team for all kinds of different scenarios. I take great pride in both teaching and coaching. I love to do both.

Question: Do you have any players that graduated that are playing College Soccer? If so, who are they and where are they
playing? Do you have any advice for them?

Joey Ralph and Chad Strader both play at Georgia Southern University. My advice to them was to enjoy this opportunity that they have
been given and use it as a chance to develop good time-management skills. College athletics is very demanding but if you stay focused it
will help you to excel later in life.

Question: What advice would you give to student athletes who are struggling academically in school?

I tell my players often that they have to make good grades in order to play on the team. You have to make them aware of what can be
taken away if they don’t take care of business in the classroom. The most important thing that a struggling student/athlete can do is to
seek help when it is needed. Go and speak to your teacher and let them know that you are willing to do anything that is necessary to do
well in class. That might include coming in before school or after school for tutoring but at least the teacher knows that you are putting
forth the effort.

Question: To whom or what do you attribute your ability to be a successful high school coach?

My father taught me a lot about coaching. He was a college coach/athletic director so I learned, from an early age, what it takes to be a
successful coach. I also have always had a strong desire to do well in all of my endeavors.

What do you love about the game of soccer?

I love every aspect of the game. I love the fact that any kid, rich or poor can participate and succeed in soccer. I love what happens
when 11 players come together and find a way to mount a successful attack on preserve a one goal lead.

What do you love about coaching high school soccer?

I really enjoy teaching kids the game. I like the fact that I can take a good athlete from another sport and get him to tryout for soccer and
develop a love and respect for the game.

Who is your favorite professional soccer team?

AS Roma. My brother has lived in Rome for the past four years and I have had the opportunity to visit him a couple of times and see a
couple of matches. I also pull for Fulham in the EPL. Craven Cottage is one of the coolest stadiums that I have ever been to!

Who is your favorite professional soccer player?

Josh Wolfe - I got to play against him a couple of times in club ball while I was in high school. Luckily I also played striker so I never had to
run him down – he was so fast!

Who is your favorite college soccer team?

I now root for Georgia Southern because I have two former players there and their coach is a friend of mine. I have always liked Virginia
also. I got to see UVA win three national championships in the 90s. It was great when Davidson College used to host the NCAA
tournament!

Who taught you the game of soccer?

My father was the athletic director at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) when I was a kid. I was a ball boy for the soccer team
when I was four years old. UAH used to have a lot of players from the Caribbean and they would come to the house for dinner and play in
the backyard with me and my brothers. They taught us a lot about the game when we were very young. I also learned a lot from my
father. He used to take me to the NCAA tournament when I was in high school.

Thanks to Coach Killips for all he does for High school soccer. Good luck to Evan High School Soccer in the upcoming
season.


Interview with Coach Brian Killips Evans High School Head Boys Soccer Coach