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.
During his time at CHS, the low-key and highly respected coach built a program from scratch. And while the Wolves never reached the heights of his Newport squads, they did qualify for the state tourney three times in an extraordinarily short time.
This year’s Coupeville team was senior heavy, and one of those players, Danny “Shaman” Savalza, spoke with reverance about the man who led them onto the pitch each afternoon.
“Senor Mendes was and will always be famous for his pregame speeches to the team that always ended in him asking, “WHAT TIME IS IT?!!” And the answer would always be an altogether thundering shout, “GAME TIME!!!!!”
We loved that. It got us pumped up for every game.
Coach Mendes was a great player in his prime, and is said to have been in contention as one of the best, if not the best, in the country and he still has it to this day.
I am grateful to have been a part of his last squad; he taught his players not only the game of soccer but how it relates to life and living.
He had a saying that I will always cherish, “Win with grace and lose with dignity.” These are great words to live by on the pitch, and equally in life.
An era of privileged coaching and historic success for Coupeville High School soccer ends with this retirement. Coach Mendes will be greatly missed and always remembered.”
