Robert Wood has been named the new head coach for the Coupeville High School boys soccer program. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
He’s a familiar face in a new place.
For anyone who follows soccer on Whidbey Island, Robert Wood has been one of those guys doing a bit of everything, helping the sport boom locally.
Always upbeat, radiating a love for the sport which he tries to pass on even to those heathens such as myself who have a limited appreciation for the beautiful game, he’s a go-getter.
And now, he’s the new boys soccer coach for Coupeville High School, bouncing up from an assistant position to replace Kyle Nelson.
Wood’s former boss is not going anywhere, but decided to focus on coaching just the Wolf girls now that both CHS soccer programs will play during the same season.
Previously, the Coupeville girls played in the fall, with the boys taking the pitch in the spring.
But, with the Wolves moving from 1A to 2B, all soccer will now be played in the fall.
Except during a pandemic…
The current plan for a return to play during COVID-19 is for spring sports to kick things off, with fall sports, including soccer, set to run from March 29 to May 8.
With the adjusted schedule, Wood and other coaches will need to adapt.
Consider the well-organized new head man ready and raring to go.
“The season will be short — six weeks — so player development isn’t going to happen,” he said. “Thus, playing time and teamwork, and enjoyment is the focus.
“Getting the kids to realize what works, what wins, what fails, and the movements/leadership required on the field,” Wood added. “Long term … there’s a noticeable lack of soccer banners in the CHS gym. It’s time to fix that!”
After slamming into state soccer powers such as King’s, Klahowya, and South Whidbey in recent years, the transition to the Northwest 2B/1B League and playing against schools with student bodies much closer to Coupeville’s should be a confidence-booster.
“Now that we’re playing in a proper league we have a great opportunity to develop a winning program and the kids should realize we’re no longer a complete underdog,” Wood said.
“(We) want to develop a long-standing, long-running, successful high school soccer program that is integrated with the community soccer club.”
Wood, a father of three — two of whom have played soccer for CHS — was deeply involved in the Central Whidbey Soccer Club.
Toss in his work as a high school coach (five years with girls and boys), as a select coach (six years with Deception FC), and running the field as a ref, and he comes to his new job with a rock-solid resume.
Soccer has been a big part of his life, from his childhood days — when he also swam, ran, skied, and played lacrosse — to his time with the United States Navy.
Wood continued to patrol the pitch, and was an avid runner, until “my legs gave out,” he said with a laugh.
Now he teaches computer software classes for the Navy, hangs out with wife Jill, the Director for the Washington State Department of Radiation Protection, and gets his soccer thrills coaching and watching his children play.
Wood (right) watches a game with fellow Wolf dad Kelly Keilwitz.
James, currently a freshman at Colorado State University, rattled home six goals across three seasons for the Wolves, while showcasing a powerful kicking leg and a scrappy on-field demeanor.
He lost out on his senior season when the pandemic shut down sports last March, but had already wrapped up a stellar run as a doubles player on the tennis court.
Daughters Eryn (a CHS junior) and Aby (a CMS 8th grader) are both athletes pulling down A’s, keeping their brother’s tradition alive.
Eryn tallied her first varsity soccer goal last season, while Aby currently plays volleyball in the fall as CMS does not have a girls soccer program.
When he’s not coaching, or trying to explain the finer points of the game to us heathens, their dad “loves to cook” and “at one point was a pretty good guitar player … until I started studying soccer.”
Intently preparing for all possibilities on the pitch is part of his game-plan, though he admits sometimes he needs to step back and just take a deep breath or two.
“I am a perfectionist, but I’m continuing to learn that not everyone is, so I can’t expect perfection,” Wood said. “I will make mistakes … oh well, let’s acknowledge that and move forward.”
What he wants from his players is not necessarily perfection, but a desire to strive for that ideal.
“Trust the process! We’re starting a program that I hope will be effective and successful long after we’ve all moved on,” Wood said. “Laying the foundation is a requirement for players in later years.
“Playing a game without your hands and without timeouts is difficult and requires mental thought and a dedication and focus beyond what they’ve given before.
“Dedication to improvement is all I ask; the wins will come as long as we move forward as a team.”
