THE FRONT ROW WITH BRUCE BOURQUIN: Friday, June 12, 2015
Julio Morales put it best, after he was hired on June 1 to become the technical coordinator and coach of the boys 12- to 15-year-old Coeur d'Alene Sting Soccer Club teams.
Since early January, the 44-year-old Gonzaga graduate and native of Missoula has also coached the U16 and U17 girls soccer teams. As the technical coordinator, he will assist in the development and implementation of curriculum for boys and girls ages 12 and older.
"I wear a few different hats," Morales said. "I'm here for what they need me to do."
FROM 2010 to this year, Morales coached with the Spokane Shadow and he was a coaching educator. From 2011 to 2013, he was an assistant coach on the Eastern Washington University women's soccer team. He is an A-licensed coach with the U.S. Soccer Federation. During the Memorial Day weekend at the Idaho Youth Soccer State Cup in Boise, Morales' Sting U15 girls team and Sting U16 boys team reached the championship and came away with runner-up finishes.
"Coaching for me is about developing kids to achieve realistic goals," Morales said. "It's about moving them on in their starting level. There needs to be growth, whether they're 12 or 13 or 18 or in their 20s."
Sting Director of Coaching Mike Thompson hired Morales. Ken Thompson, the head coach of the North Idaho College men's soccer team, also brings collegiate coaching experience.
"I've known Julio in the coaching world for a long time," Mike Thompson said. "He's a tremendous coach. For him to be available, it's a no-brainer. It's a major coup for our club. Julio's one of those coaches who you throw him into any situation, he's savvy enough to handle it. He adjusts his style to any situation."
MORALES PLAYED from 1989-93 as a defender for Gonzaga, as it was in the early days of playing in the West Coast Conference. He has three grown boys, the youngest of which graduated from high school in Spokane, and in 1989 he graduated from Hellgate High in Missoula, where as a quarterback he played for none other than current Lake City coach Van Troxel.
In 2010, he spent a season as the assistant coach of the North Idaho College men's soccer team and from 2004-06, he was a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Montana's women's soccer team.
"It's unique that we all have collegiate levels," Morales said. "It (coaching at NIC) was good, I enjoyed the team, I tried to make an impact during my time there. Coeur d'Alene is a great place. We continue to strive for development and translate that to our teams."
Morales said the style of American soccer has changed quite a bit from the past decade or so.
"Our system of play in the U.S. Soccer Federation youth ranks, we try to utilize them as a guide," Morales said. "We don't stray from that, because it's working now. The methodology, the philosophy, that's progressed from a sweeper or striker from 12 to 15 years ago. Now there are more zone responsibilities, there's a flat back four, it's possession-based versus a more direct, attacking style, wherever you can find a space."
FOR NOW, Morales does not necessarily look to become an assistant coach or head coach at the high school level in the area. He's just focused on his responsibilities for the Sting. From 1998 to 2006, he coached at Sentinel High in Missoula.
"I'm not too concerned about those areas," Morales said. "I felt like it was time for a change professionally. I knew the timing was right. I wanted to move on and challenge myself in different areas. Mike knew my credentials and he brought me on staff. We're making strides in the right direction. The Sting soccer club is on the right path."
Bruce Bourquin is a sports writer at The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2013 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ bourq25