Coupeville Sports

    Paul Mendes congratulates one of his final players, CHS freshman Zane Bundy. (Photo courtesy Coupeville Booster Club)

Mendes and wife Heidi Hennessey. (Joanne Pelant photo)

Mendes as a Seattle Sounder. (Photo copyright nasljerseys.com)

We’re shuttin’ this joint down!

Bringing a bit of her New York roots to Coupeville, Heidi Hennessey is throwing a block party for her husband, retiring Coupeville High School boys’ soccer coach Paul Mendes.

Former players and students, fellow coaches and basically anyone who wants to honor the low-key, highly-respected master of the pitch are invited.

The shindig, which will celebrate a soccer guru who compiled 32 seasons at various high schools, winning two state titles at Newport before building the Coupeville program from scratch, is set for Saturday, Aug. 24. Things kick off at 3 PM and will wind up somewhere north of 7 PM.

Time will be set aside for those gathered to share memories and thoughts about the ol’ ball coach.

Hennessey is putting together a photo book for Mendes, which will include photos from the celebration. People are encouraged to bring photos from the past to be included.

Hot food, soft drinks and dessert will be provided. Party-goers can bring a side dish and/or adult beverages if they like.

Directions from the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry to Heidi and Paul’s house:

Take Hwy 20 to Coupeville
Take Coupeville exit at the traffic light by going right on Main St
You will see the hospital on the right
Take a right on 3rd St, at St Mary’s Catholic Church.
Take a right on NE Albion St
House is one block up hill
Address is 208 NE Albion St

Read Full Post »

Wolf senior captain Luke Pelant (left) and CHS coach Paul Mendes share a moment. (Photo courtesy Coupeville Booster Club)

Coupeville High School has had some standout coaches, but few, if any, have achieved what Paul Mendes did in his career.

Two state titles during his time as boys’ soccer coach at Newport. Two national titles as a college assistant. A professional player hailed as one of the best in the country before a leg injury prematurely ended his career.

Then, he showed up on Whidbey Island and built a Wolf soccer program from scratch, taking three squads to the state tourney in a remarkably short time period.

His recent retirement will leave a gaping hole, and, having returned from having spent the past six weeks working at the Northwest Soccer Camp, he took a moment to talk about why now was the right time to step away.

After much deliberation, I have decided to step down as Head Soccer Coach of Coupeville High School.

I have been a Head Coach of high school soccer programs for the last 32 consecutive years. The decision to retire from coaching is one that I have thought a great deal about, and I feel that now is the right time.

I would like to thank the school for giving me the opportunity to serve. It has been a special experience for me, filled with many golden moments that I will cherish forever.

The  support given by parents and the community has also been first class.

I feel good about going out with a special group of seniors, who gave it their best shot, and represented their school very well.

There are also a lot of projects that I would like to get to, and I look forward to having more time to appreciate spring on this beautiful Island.”

Read Full Post »

Danny Savalza and parents Hank and Deb. (John Fisken photo)

The legend has retired, but stories about him will continue to be told as time goes by.

Paul Mendes recently stepped down as Coupeville High School boys’ soccer coach, bringing an end to a supremely successfully three-decade-plus coaching career. Multiple high school state titles and college national titles and Coach of the Year honors out the wazoo, the former professional player made an impact.

Read Full Post »

Paul Mendes and wife Heidi Hennessey. (Joanne Pelant photo)

Mendes as a Sounder. (Photo copyright nasljerseys.com)

The number of former professional athletes coaching at Coupeville High School just got a lot smaller.

Wolf boys’ soccer guru Paul Mendes, a man who once played on the same field as Pele, has decided to call it a career as a high school coach.

After decades in the game, with the last run being dedicated to building the CHS soccer program from scratch to a unit that went to state three times, it’s time to get off the bus.

Mendes will remain as a Spanish teacher at CHS, while one of his assistants, Kyle Nelson, who coached the Wolf JV, will step into his role as head coach.

Before he arrived in Coupeville and helped launch the Wolf boys’ program, Mendes, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, had already been hugely successful at multiple levels.

He coached Newport High School for 24 years, winning state titles in 1982 and 2003. During his tenure, he was a five-time KingCo Coach of the Year selection.

Mendes also scored big at the college level, where he was an assistant coach for Seattle Pacific University. During his time there, they won national titles in 1986 and 1993.

A brilliant player, he was a four-year letterman and three time All-Conference selection for the University of Washington.

Drafted by the Seattle Sounders in 1977, during the heyday of the North American Soccer League, Mendes played parts of two seasons as a midfielder, sporting jersey number 24, but his career was prematurely ended by lingering complications from a broken leg suffered as a rookie.

Read Full Post »