BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — What a season! The Bloomfield Hills High School girls soccer team beat the #1 ranked Northville Mustangs in double overtime to become 1st time State Champs! Bloomfield’s head girls soccer coach, Alan Zakaria, couldn’t be more proud of the team’s determination as they persevered through a competitive schedule. I had the opportunity to ask Coach Zakaria about his coaching career and what this momentous win means to the BHHS girls soccer program.

How long have you been coaching?

Alan Zakaria: I’ve been the Head Coach at Bloomfield Hills High School Girls Soccer since the merger of Lahser and Andover in 2013-2014. Prior to that, I was the head coach at Berkley High School Girls Soccer for 2 years and a long time assistant coach at Bloomfield Hills Lahser with the boys and girls soccer programs

What is your background in this sport?

Zakaria: I played soccer at Bloomfield Hills Lahser and then at the University of Michigan. I started coaching in college at our University of Michigan Boys Soccer Camps in the summer. After finishing my college career, I started coaching travel and high school soccer.

What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?

Zakaria: We are focused on deliberate training where our girls work hard in training on specific areas of the game of soccer and learn from their mistakes and exhibit a growth mindset to improve every day. There is also a great camaraderie in the group that helps facilitate excellence in the team.

Please describe the most memorable games/tournaments/championships your team has won.

Zakaria: This year was full of memorable games. Winning the District Final after getting a red card and playing down a player for close to 50 minutes was very gratifying. Defeating the defending state champions, Hartland, in the regional final, was a memorable game. And of course defeating the #1 ranked team in the state (Northville) in the State final to win a state championship was an outstanding feat and performance

How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?

Zakaria: We really look at ways that we can improve. We use losses as an opportunity to grow, learn and develop so that we can be a better team in the next game and later in the season. The team exemplified that this year with our tough schedule and really grew throughout the season.

Describe your proudest coaching moment.

Zakaria: Seeing the joy on the players’ faces after winning the regional final and state final was a real proud moment for me. They put so much effort and hard work into this season and were extremely enjoyable to coach. They’ve developed a strong, close-knit, resilient championship culture that we are extremely proud of.

What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?

Zakaria: I would say the importance of resilience. We always tell our girls that in soccer, and in life, a lot of times it’s not what happens to you, but it’s how you respond that makes all the difference in the world. This is a great lesson in sports that applies to life.

What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?

Zakaria: I hope to leave a legacy to our players of realizing the importance of playing for a team, school, community and city and playing for something greater than themselves. I hope they can see how important it is to have a growth mindset and to seek excellence every day. My hope is this will translate to their lives when they leave our program to help them achieve their goals and dreams in life.

Coach Zakaria is extremely proud of what his team accomplished this year. He believes the girls have been great representatives of their school, city and community. His closing comment says it best, “The city of Bloomfield Hills should be extremely proud of these wonderful young ladies!”

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