Hoogerdijk steps down as Kickers’ coach - Carman Valley Leader

Hoogerdijk steps down as Kickers’ coach
Disappointing season for the team

By Gene Still
Friday September 01, 2006

Carman Valley Leader — William Hoogerdijk is stepping down as head coach of the Carman Kickers soccer team.
"I've decided to take a step back," Hoogerdijk. "It's a chance for me to do something different."
Hoogerdijk just wrapped up his fifth season at the helm of the Fourth Division club. And following their first playoff appearance last year this season has been nothing short of disappointing for the coach and the team.
After heading into the season with high hopes of not only making the playoffs but also going further into the post season, instead the team found itself mired in last place in the Black conference of the division with a 2-11-2 mark (as of press time) with one game remaining.
The year got off to a promising start as they began with a 2-1 record including a 7-2 triumph over Colo Colo. But that's when their season began to unravel with a knee injury to team leader and offensive catalyst, striker Lyle Vanveen.
And Vanveen's injury turned out to be more serious than they had first hoped and he ended up missing the rest of the season.
Another problem for the club was slow starts that usually entailed the entire opening half. That left the Kickers playing in a catch-up situation and ultimately another defeat.
Those three factors along with what Hoogerdijk noted was an inability to cash in on their scoring opportunities, proved to be their undoing this year.
"It's extremely frustrating," he said. "I don't like losing - I hate it."
However, among the highlights for him during his tenure, near the top of the list was qualifying for the playoffs in 2006 and the relationships he's formed with many current and former players.
"Making the playoffs last year was a huge plus," he explained. "I've got a lot of good memories about the players I've worked with and developed friendships."
He noted that by leaving at this time gives the team plenty of time to decide what it wants to do for 2007.
"It's also a chance for them to do something different," Hoogerdijk said. "Maybe get a new coach or play without one or have a player-coach.
"It's a case of where maybe a change is a good thing."