2008 Woodie Awards
The Eagle soars
John Earnhart
Issue date: 6/27/07 Section: Sports
While SIUE Athletics is on the verge of going to NCAA Division I, Men's Soccer Head Coach Ed Huneke isn't worried.
"As far as the big picture goes, it will be a very good move for the university," said Huneke. "But right now, I'm focused on the present."
This new season will be Huneke's 21st season as coach of the Cougars. He is only the second men's soccer coach in SIUE's history. With such a long tenure as head coach, Huneke is up there with such names such as professional coaches Bill Cowher, Jerry Sloan, Bobby Cox and Joe Paterno.
Huneke first began coaching soccer at Lewis and Clark Community College. He was the head coach at LCCC for 11 years and took the team to the national tournament six times.
After LCCC, Huneke came to SIUE, his alma mater, to coach. Huneke graduated from SIUE in 1971 and went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from Saint Louis University in 1975.
"If I weren't coaching, I'd be relying on my degrees," said Huneke. "I'd probably be in real estate or investments."
Luckily for SIUE, Huneke is coaching. His career record is 225-147-28. Last season, Huneke helped contribute in winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) All-Sports Trophy and the Commissioner's Cup for SIUE. The men's soccer team finished No. 8 in the national rankings and No. 2 in attendance.
"Last season, we had a good core of guys," said Huneke.
Due to graduation, the soccer team lost a lot of key players. However, the team recently signed six new players for this season.
"Half of the new guys will contribute right away," said Huneke. "That's not an easy thing to do."
The new faces are what Huneke is focused on now.
"We'll need to click as a team sooner," Huneke said. "Last year we benefited from experience."
The soccer team will begin their season on Aug. 17, versus Tulsa.
It will be the last season for SIUE Men's soccer on the NCAA D-II level.
"In this last season, we will just have to continue to be a top team in the nation and try to win it all," Huneke said.
"As far as the big picture goes, it will be a very good move for the university," said Huneke. "But right now, I'm focused on the present."
This new season will be Huneke's 21st season as coach of the Cougars. He is only the second men's soccer coach in SIUE's history. With such a long tenure as head coach, Huneke is up there with such names such as professional coaches Bill Cowher, Jerry Sloan, Bobby Cox and Joe Paterno.
Huneke first began coaching soccer at Lewis and Clark Community College. He was the head coach at LCCC for 11 years and took the team to the national tournament six times.
After LCCC, Huneke came to SIUE, his alma mater, to coach. Huneke graduated from SIUE in 1971 and went on to earn a master's degree in business administration from Saint Louis University in 1975.
"If I weren't coaching, I'd be relying on my degrees," said Huneke. "I'd probably be in real estate or investments."
Luckily for SIUE, Huneke is coaching. His career record is 225-147-28. Last season, Huneke helped contribute in winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) All-Sports Trophy and the Commissioner's Cup for SIUE. The men's soccer team finished No. 8 in the national rankings and No. 2 in attendance.
"Last season, we had a good core of guys," said Huneke.
Due to graduation, the soccer team lost a lot of key players. However, the team recently signed six new players for this season.
"Half of the new guys will contribute right away," said Huneke. "That's not an easy thing to do."
The new faces are what Huneke is focused on now.
"We'll need to click as a team sooner," Huneke said. "Last year we benefited from experience."
The soccer team will begin their season on Aug. 17, versus Tulsa.
It will be the last season for SIUE Men's soccer on the NCAA D-II level.
"In this last season, we will just have to continue to be a top team in the nation and try to win it all," Huneke said.
Be the first to comment on this story