Benilde St. Margaret's Coach Scott Helling-Christy

The Red Knights have built a name for themselves on the soccer field finishing their last three seasons at the state tournament. Coach Scott Helling-Christy hopes to continue the trend but ultimately wants to see his young team improve over the course of the year.

VYPE: What drew you into to coaching?
SHC: I enjoyed playing soccer and got involved with coaching when my sons started playing youth soccer many years ago. I have been with the girls team at Benilde-St. Margaret's for 13 years now - 11 as the assistant and two years as the head coach.

VYPE: Who is one of your coaching role models?
SHC: John Tudor - he has been the Director of Coaching with the Tonka United Soccer Association for the past 13 to 14 years. Also, he had a successful career playing professionally in England. He has taught me a lot over the years.

VYPE: Who has been the most influential on your coaching career?
SHC: The players I have coached through the years are the ones that motivate me to continue to grow as a coach. I have been fortunate to coach a number of talented players and teams who push me to be a better coach so that I can help them reach their goals as players.

VYPE: What do you think is one of the most important lessons that kids learn through high school athletics?
SHC: The need to compromise and put aside differences so they can work together and be successful in a team setting. This is something that they can take into their adult life when they have to work with others to accomplish goals.

VYPE: What have been the biggest challenges in switching from an assistant to head coach?
SHC: Dealing with the disappointments of parents and players when they didn't get put on the team they wanted or there was not a spot available for them on a team.

VYPE: Who are the leaders on your team this year?
SHC: We have a young team so there are a lot of opportunities for players to take on leadership roles. The players who stand out at this time are the captains - senior Anne Huber and juniors Laura Kosch and Maddie Jobe. Also, juniors Maddie Bergh and Melissa Borer have been on the team since they where freshman.

VYPE: What are your goals for the season?
SHC: We have been fortunate to be in the state tournament the past three years and the majority of the players on the current team were there last year. We are a young team with a lot of sophomores and juniors so the most important thing is that we are a better team at the end of the season then we were at the beginning. Hopefully this will be good enough to make it into the state tournament.