Two Holy Angels soccer coaches awash in success explain it this way:

The right place. The right players. The right plan.

The school’s girls soccer team is 3-1-0 in 2024 and No. 1 in the Class 2A rankings released by the coaches association on Sept. 9. The boys team is 6-0-0 and ranked second. 

It wasn’t always this way. Before Dave Marshak became head coach of the girls team in 2007, the program had just four state tournament appearances (1982 and three straight from 2001-03). The Stars became the state tournament runner-up the following year, and lately Marshak has guided them to five straight state tournament appearances, including a Class 2A championship in 2022 and runner-up finish last season.

James See has been the boys head coach since 2017 and led the Stars to three straight state tournament appearances, in 2018, 2019 and 2021, including a Class 2A championship in 2019 and runner-up finish in 2021. Prior to See's arrival, the boys program had two state tournament appearances (2000 and 2001).

Why the improvement?

“We could argue culture, we could argue tactics, we could argue core values that we’ve instilled,” See said. “I think there are a lot of pieces that changed things for the better.”

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