Christensen awarded 5A soccer coach of the year
photo credit: Jessica Blakeley
Coach of the year \\ In the last 30 seconds of the semi-finals, Coach Kody Christensen’s varsity soccer team was up 2-1 against Grapevine April 16. They defeated to move on to the State championship.
May 26, 2015
After winning the 2015 State Championship, Varsity Soccer Coach, Kody Christensen was awarded the 5A Soccer Coach of the Year award by the media.
“It has been a goal to be the best coach that I can be for my girls,” Christensen said. “This honor means so much because it is my team that earns the honors. I am proud to share it with my program.”
Christensen played soccer for over 20 years, stopping after college. He has been a soccer coach for 10 years.
“I have always wanted to be part of a soccer team whether as a player or as a coach,” Christensen said. “I knew that when I was done playing that coaching was my calling.”
He attended the University of the Ozarks where he played on their soccer team.
“My favorite coach was Dave DeHart. He was my coach at the University of the Ozarks,” Christensen said. “He was someone who was honest and truly cared about the sport. He taught the game in a way that would promote a love for the game. He was a coach who taught players to train, be prepared and win.”
When he was finished playing soccer he transferred to the University of Arkansas to finish his degree in Kinesiology.
Christensen attended Wylie High School and played soccer there when he was a high school student.
After he graduated, he began coaching at Burnett Junior High, then Wylie High School and now at this school.
“Christensen could come back in the community he lived in and be the true person he was because he had nothing to hide about himself,” Principal Mike Williams said.
Christensen has coached 100 wins at East.
His goal is to win another State championship.
“Wylie East is a great place with so many great things going on each year,” Christensen said. “I believe that the spirit and student support is what drives athletics. As someone who participated in school athletics it is so important to be supportive to all programs. Wylie East students should take pride in being a fan because fans are part of each team. Be loud be proud!”
The community is having a pep rally for the soccer team’s success at Wylie Stadium May 26 at 6:30.
“We couldn’t have gotten this far without all the support from our fans and it’d be awesome to have them come and celebrate the victory with us,” senior varsity player Sarah O’Neall said.
