By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Greenwood Blue Jays are hoping history will soon repeat itself.
Jan Stahle, who previously coached at Greenwood from 1992-2002, returns to the sidelines as Blue Jays’ head coach this fall.
Stahle helped the Blue Jays become one of the state’s premier programs in the 1990s.
Greenwood made five straight final fours (1993-97) and won eight district championships overall during his original tenure.
“Coming back to Greenwood brings back great memories,” he said. “Our expectations are high. Our goals are to win districts and (advance) on to state.”
Stahle will oversee a Blue Jays squad that returns a handful of players with significant varsity experience.
Senior Zach Bailey can play anywhere on the field and is Greenwood’s top returning scorer. He netted 15 goals plus five assists last season.
Senior defender Kyle Holmes brings toughness to Greenwood’s backline.
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Senior Gavin Duncan is a four-year starter in the midfield. He brings more experience and versatility to the Blue Jays.
Junior Griffin Litherland returns in the net. The former utility player has blossomed as Greenwood’s full-time starting goalkeeper the past two seasons.
Greenwood’s remaining lineup will feature many new players. Heading into preseason practice, Greenwood has 22 players on its roster.
“We could be adding two more (players) as well. I don’t think Greenwood has ever had that many players coming out, so we’re excited,” Stahle said. “We have five seniors on the squad whom I expect great leadership from along with our goalkeeper, Griffin Litherland.”
A strong freshmen class will also push for playing time right away.
“We currently have nine freshmen coming out and all of them will see playing time,” Stahle said. “We’ll probably have four of them in the starting lineup.”
Stahle said the Blue Jays will utilize a team-first, pass-heavy style.
“We want to let the ball do the work. So, keep the ball on the ground, (make) simple passes and no dribbling unless it’s a 1-v-1 or we have no other options,” he said. “Those simple, one- and two-touch passes will move the ball a lot faster than dribbling.
“We want to create triangles constantly and switch the field as much as possible. I expect our team to pass very well, stay compact and work as a unit.”
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Stahle, a former placekicker for the Missouri State/SMS football team (1976-78) and head coach of the school’s soccer team (1989-92), was inducted in the university’s athletic hall of fame in 2002.
He originally came to Greenwood in 1974 as a foreign exchange student from Sweden. In his first stint as Blue Jays’ head coach, Stahle amassed a 175-79-16 overall record.
Stahle’s remained involved in local soccer over the past two decades. He’s on the Lake Country Soccer Board of Executives and does color commentary for Missouri State and high school soccer games.
John Markey, the current executive director of Lake Country Soccer and Southwest MO Rush Soccer (club), will serve as Greenwood’s assistant coach. Markey has an extensive background in youth soccer and was twice named Coach of the Year in Alabama.
Stahle takes over for Chris Shull, who had coached at Greenwood since 2004. Shull guided Greenwood to three final four appearances during his tenure, most recently in 2019.
With his son involved in youth soccer, Shull decided to resign his coaching position at Greenwood earlier this summer.
He described it as a “very tough decision” and said he will “deeply miss the school, student-athletes and parents who supported the program.”
The Blue Jays, due to MSHSSA’s new “championship factor” for classification, moved up to Class 2 last season. Greenwood finished 8-6 overall and fell to Monett in its district opener.
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Greenwood graduated a senior class – Hugh McWay, Cooper Clark, Greggory McQueary, Noah Smothers and Dominic Polly – that played heavy minutes over the last few years.
Greenwood begins the regular season August 31 at home against West Plains.
Greenwood will host New Covenant Academy, Marshfield and Logan-Rogersville in a jamboree scrimmage on August 20 at Cooper Soccer Complex.
