THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Michael built a solid foundation with Timberlake girls soccer

Steve Michael surprised many with his recent decision to step down as girls soccer coach at Timberlake High.

His wife, Tamara, one-upped him on Monday night.

After the seniors were honored on senior night when the Tigers played host to St. Maries, Tamara had arranged for former players to also be on hand, for what was the final game Michael would coach on the Timberlake High field.

“Probably 15 former players that have played for me through the years,” Steve Michael said. “It was kind of a special night. It was huge; it wasn’t just huge to see them as players, many of them brought out their children.

“It was a big surprise, and a good surprise.”

Steve Michael coached the Timberlake girls for all 16 seasons the program has been in existence. He even pulled double duty for a couple of seasons, also coaching the Timberlake boys.

“We’ve reached a point in our lives where it’s time to do other things,” Michael said.

STEVE MICHAEL started the Timberlake girls soccer program in 2008, after a few years coaching in Lakeland’s club program.

As Timberlake girls coach, he has an overall record of 166-101-18, with three Intermountain League titles, four 3A District 1-2 championships, and 10 trips to state, including four trophies (one second, two thirds and a consolation title). In 2014, the Tigers lost to Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in the state title game.

In two seasons as Timberlake boys coach, Michael went 24-11-1, with one IML title, one district crown and one trip to state.

What is he most proud of?

“Consistency,” Michael said. “We’ve just been very consistent with developing the players, and managing those players, and developing that mindset of always being there at the end, battling it out.

“And one of the biggest thing, after seeing the girls (that played for him in the past) there tonight, is seeing the relationship built between the players, seeing them with their kids.

“It made me feel kind of old,” he said with a laugh.

IN 2018, he was asked by Timberlake’s athletic director at the time if he wouldn’t mind coaching both the boys and girls teams. In the regular season, it worked out because the Tigers usually played girl/boy doubleheaders, so he could coach both teams.

He also noted at the time he had capable assistant coaches with both teams, which helped make it work.

But the postseason was a different animal.

In the 2018 state tournament, both Timberlake teams were scheduled to play at the same time. He decided to coach the girls, because the assistant coach, his daughter Sierra (Michael) Kjos, who had played for him, was earlier into her coaching journey. The boys assistant, Ron Rojas, was more experienced.

Still, with the two teams playing on adjacent fields (end to end, like at The Fields at Real Life in Post Falls), you wouldn’t blame him for trying to sneak a peek down at the other field, where the Tiger boys were playing.

“That’s when I knew I couldn’t be in two places at once,” Steve Michael said.

In 2020, Timberlake hired a boys soccer coach, and Steve went back to coaching the girls exclusively.

Michael, 56, was in the ministry for more than a decade. Before that, he was in the construction business, and in recent years has returned to that line of work. In fact, one of his current projects is building a home for his family near Silverwood.

“Just transitioning into something different now,” said Michael, who said he wouldn’t rule out an eventual return to coaching a few years down the road. “My priorities have shifted; just not enough time to share with everybody. Time for us (Steve and Tamara) to spend more time together.”

FOR MOST of those years, particularly in girls soccer, Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy and Timberlake have been the top two teams in the Intermountain League.

Charter, of course, has won six state titles, including five in a row from 2016-20. The Panthers have won seven straight district titles.

But Timberlake also went to state most of those years as the No. 2 team from District 1-2. And both are expected to advance to state next week, when the district tournament unfolds at The Fields at Real Life.

“Some years are harder than others, but it’s a game I think my players know to show up for, and know it’s going to be a tough game,” Michael said. “We’re going to compete well against them every time.”

Last year, thanks to MaxPreps rankings being used to determine first-round matchups at state, the longtime North Idaho 3A rivals squared off in the first round, with Timberlake pulling off a (somewhat) surprising 4-3 overtime victory over Coeur d’Alene Charter.

“I should have retired after that game, doggone it,” Steve Michael said with a laugh.

Timberlake lost in the semis, then fell in the third-place game at state.

“It kind of affirmed what you try to coach these players, all this training they've been putting in,” he said of beating Coeur d’Alene Charter. “‘See, ladies, you can rise up, you have what it takes.’

“It’s a reminder of why you play the game.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.