SPHS’s Starr named Coach of the Year

The National Federation of High School Sports awarded Spain Park girls soccer coach Robert Starr with the 2012 Alabama State Coach of the Year award. The NFHS has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982. Starr launched the SPHS girls soccer program in spring 2002 and has been bringing students together as a team since.

How did you first get into coaching soccer?

I played soccer at UAB, and during the summer I would work their soccer camps. I began to really enjoy coaching the kids. I have been coaching soccer for 19 years.

Why do you think this was awarded to you?

I think it may be a culmination. We have worked hard to build a consistent and successful program as a whole, but we also had a run of three straight state championships the past few seasons.

What obstacles have you had to overcome as a coach to be able to win an award like this?

I’m not sure there has been anything I would call a real obstacle. Spain Park provides a great environment and supports the program, which gives me a great opportunity to work in helping these athletes be successful.

How is your team doing? How do you train and motivate them?

We are currently in our preseason training and have been preparing for the season that starts in a few weeks. We train five to six days a week, and the motivation really comes from our program’s tradition. My players enjoy the challenge of what it takes to be a state champion.

What goals have do you have for yourself and your team?

My personal goal each season is for the team to not want the season to end…to have the feeling that they don’t want to take that jersey off after the last game. I want the girls to have a real sense of pride in Spain Park Girls Soccer. For the team, the goal has always been to win a state title. You can’t win every year, but we approach it with the sense that we are going to do everything in our power to try and bring another championship to Spain Park

What type values do you like to instill in your players?

We want good people in our program that have a team mindset. I want them to understand that playing at Spain Park is extremely demanding. I have been fortunate to have excellent students in the classroom. It’s a demand of excellence on and off the field. We don’t want to settle for average in anything. We want to be the hardest working team that we come up against. We also want to develop their “social skills” to handle the day to day issues that high school presents them.

What do you model your coaching strategy after?

I think I take things from all coaches that I have the opportunity to be around (regardless of their sport). I enjoy listening to coaches and learning. Coach Mike Getman at UAB helped me get my start and establish a coaching foundation for me.

How do you get your team to work as a cohesive group?

You have to approach it with the idea that no one player is bigger than the team. Everyone has a role to play. If a few don’t play their role, we won’t be successful.

Do you have an aggressive or conservative style to your offense?

I would say our offense may be a little conservative. We pride ourselves more on the defensive side of the ball. Good defense will start our offense.

Do you agree that offense wins games but defense wins championships?

Yes, there is no question that if you can keep your opponents’ score to a minimum, you will always be in the game. Our first state championship at Spain Park was exactly a situation where we were the overwhelming underdog in the state finals against a high scoring Oak Mountain offense. In the second half, our defense held strong, and we ended up with a great victory.

How are your team captains chosen?

I get everyone’s input on their choices and tally them up…Ultimately, I make the final selection.

Who is your favorite coach through your career?

I really like taking things from several different coaches. All the great coaches have something to add to any sport regardless of what sport they coach. I truly enjoy listening to Lou Holtz and his approach to coaching. I listen to any of Lou Holtz’s motivational speeches that I can get my hands on.

How important is winning to you?

Winning is the reward, but playing well is really the goal. If you play well and lose, it’s a little easier to handle as a coach. Although, I do enjoy the quote from the movie Moneyball where Billy Beane expresses his feelings on the topic: “I hate losing…I hate losing more than I like winning.” That quote always makes me laugh, and I can certainly relate to that sentiment some days.

What do you think is the most important attribute to possess to be a successful soccer player?

Pride. I think that pride will make you work hard when it’s not easy. It will make you work on the fine details of the player’s own game. It will make you lead your team to reach new standards. In some things pride can be perceived as a bad thing, but in sports it can be a real fuel to your success and what you want to represent.

Are you more of a yelling coach or do you like to approach players in a more personal, quiet confrontation?

You may need to ask my players, and it would certainly depend on the situation. But I imagine I lean more to the vocal side. I try to make sure my points are constructive and valid. But I’m passionate about what I want us to accomplish as a team, and I think our players understand that.