Boys soccer coach Kain stepping into void to help Maumee girls program during offseason
- Jeremy Schneider
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
By JEREMY SCHNEIDER
IMA SPORTS
Just because the Maumee girls soccer team is in its offseason without a head coach, the work can’t stop for the Panthers.
Longtime coach Jeremiah McNutt announced his departure from the program in November, after winning three straight sectional titles, two district titles and a Northern Buckeye Conference championship.
In the hopes of keeping the ball rolling, Maumee boys coach Chad Kain has temporarily taken the girls program under his wing while the search for the next girls coach continues. When that coach is hired, Kain has also agreed to serve as a mentor of sorts as well.
“It’s all about making sure the girls soccer program continues to put girls on the field and this program thrives,” Kain said. “These ladies need to build a culture and write their own story.”
The girls program is in good hands with Kain. The boys team has won back-to-back NBC and district championships, going 38-2-1 over those two years with a 259-34 goal differential.
Kain is active with the Maumee Express travel soccer team, and he’s coached many of the girls on the high school roster, and he said “the trust is there that the transition will go smoothly as we move forward.”
For Maumee athletic director Cam Coutcher, the idea of having Kain take temporary control of the girls program was a no-brainer.
“People who care passionately about the success of certain programs feel compelled to help, and that’s exactly what Chad is doing,” Coutcher said. “I don’t think there has to be any other motivation besides a passion for the sport and for the program as a whole.
“Chad has a rapport with the girls in the soccer program, so he’s the perfect person to encourage them to stay engaged. Otherwise, kids might take this as a chance to separate themselves which could lead to them dropping out of the program. Instead, he’s actually building interest and giving the girls a sense of comfort in the transition.”
Kain said the girls will start training in the weight room and speed and agility drills after the holiday break. They’ll also play a session of indoor games as well. All told, they’ll largely follow the same training schedule as the boys program.
Coutcher said he already has several qualified candidates on the list to take over the girls program, and they’ll start interviews after the holidays.
He also has a list of requirements the new Panthers coach must meet.
“It’s very important to me that the next coach is actively involved with the youth in our community. That’s where the relationships and engagement begins,” Coutcher said. “We obviously want a coach who will push the athletes in our girls soccer program to compete at a high level to continue the high level of success we’ve been having under coach McNutt. They will need to be a strong leader who understands how to work within our athletic department. We are a community of coaches and leaders, and it’s vital that they fit in with our community.”
Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers
Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com
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