By Zoey Davis

This year’s girls’ soccer team looks different with two new coaches–one for both JV and Varsity. 

     The new soccer staff seems to have a high amount of collective experience. Both new coaches are transferring from extensive backgrounds and histories within the soccer field. Dino Mclntyre, the new head Varsity girls’ soccer coach, has a lengthy high school coaching career.

     “I coached at Walsh Jesuit High School for 30 years. I started the program there in the early ‘90s, when the school became co-ed, and that was the only place I was at for a long time,” Mclntyre said. 

     His past involvement allowed him to lay out the foundation for the new program, which focuses heavily on the player rather than the sport. It aims to create bonds and relationships with the girls rather than being overly coach-like. Mclntyre believes that focusing on the player, rather than the sport, will strengthen the girls rather than drilling practices into them.

     “It’s about connecting with girls and caring about them more than just soccer players. [It’s about] caring about them as a human being because that’s really at the end of the day, what it boils down to. That’s what will last forever,” Mclntyre said. 

     Nina Rorabaugh, the new girls’ head JV soccer coach, is also an intervention specialist at the high school. This past spring, she was also an assistant girls’ track coach. With a familiar face, the girls seem to be comfortable and open; she brings an understanding to the team. 

     “I had some really awesome coaches, and I had some really terrible coaches. I wanted to be able to put myself into a really good position where I can support my athletes from a soccer standpoint, but I can also care for them well outside of soccer,” Rorabaugh said. 

     Rorabaugh has not only coached at the high school level, but she has also coached and played club soccer. 

     “For the past five years, I’ve been coaching youth soccer at the competitive level, and I was ready to take that step into coaching at the high school level,” Rorabaugh said. 

     The two soccer coaches want to focus on the relationship they build with each other and their players. They believe a strong mindset will make a strong game. The main focus they want to establish is an understanding and a long-lasting bond between not only the coaches, but also among the players. 

     Sophomore Ellie Julius, a soccer player who has been through the old program as well, is seeing these changes being made in real time. 

     “It’s affected everybody because it’s new, and it’s different, but it’s affected us in a good way, too. Everyone is getting along much better, and everybody’s getting better,” Julius said. 

     The girls suggest that the new coaches positively strengthen the team overall. Both coaches bring their own experiences–both positive and negative–to the team. Rorabaugh seems to connect with the players well, having that girl-to-girl connection with the teams. While Mclntyre’s experiences bring the team together, effectively and thoughtfully. Both coaches work well together and build off each other to make the team stronger and greater. 

     “It’s important that athletes feel supported, like in school, because we’re student-athletes, not just athletes. So it’s important to me that they know I’m here as well,” Rorabaugh said.