
Q&A with Cedarburg girls soccer coach Robert Williams
CEDARBURG, Wis. — A Q&A with Robert Williams who is the head coach for the girls’ soccer team at Cedarburg High School.
How long have you been coaching?
Robert Williams: I have been coaching at Cedarburg High School for eight years on the girl’s side. I have been coaching since 1999. Yikes! I am getting old.
What is your background in this sport?
Williams: My background in this sport is I started playing as a 12-year-old. I was introduced to the sport by a basketball teammate. I played for the old club Mequon United for 6 years. I continued playing in high school and then played at Carroll College.
What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Williams: One or two things the team does in training that are keys to their success are continuing to compete each and every day in training. The more we push each other, the better we will be as a program. Also, our players are amazing kids, first and foremost, and they have an amazing ability to take coaching and apply it to their individual and team. We also want them to have fun and take pride in representing Cedarburg High School.
Please describe the most memorable games/tournaments/championships your team has won.
Williams: The most memorable games I have had at Cedarburg. There are two that I will never forget. One is when we played Whitefish Bay for the conference title on the line at MSOE. While we didn’t win, we ended up tying, and it was an amazing accomplishment for our team and girls. The second was our sectional final, four years ago, vs. Slinger. Again, our team showed grit and believing in themselves to come back from a 2-0 deficit and score in the last seconds of the game to win the regional championship.
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Williams: Encouraging the team after a loss, I have come a long way in this department. I am working on keeping things in perspective and letting our players know it’s only one loss, and let’s move on. Also, learning from a loss, we encourage our players to learn from losses and reflect on what we all can do better.
Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Williams: My proudest moment as a coach was the team and my staff getting to state last year. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work, fun, and learning. I have never had as much fun as I did, and connected with a team, like I did last year. Caroline Fink, a former player of mine, is an example of the successful people I have been lucky to surround myself with.
What is the biggest life lesson you learned from being a coach?
Williams: The biggest life lesson I have learned is to be better. Being a better person, a better coach, and a better friend. I have learned to change my ways and have a bond with my players. I have learned to have them enjoy the ride, and in the past, that wasn’t the case, and I wasn’t the best coach and the best person I could be. I have had many mentors realize that and help me along the way. Although I can’t go back and change the past, I can learn from it, and that is what I am striving to do. Most importantly, realize that this is a game, and we play it, coach it for fun, and to have positive memories.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Williams: The biggest legacy I would like to leave as a coach would be that everyday you can challenge yourself and your program to be better. I want players to remember how much I cared about them as a player and as a person. Finally, taking time to meet someone and engage with them will go a long way. Also, to have the players remember this mantra, “Every day in every way, I am getting better.”
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