Longtime Union Springs/Port Byron boys soccer head coach Jim Hodges earned his 200th career victory with the Wolves last week.
US/PB secured the milestone for its head coach on Sept. 8 witha 1-0 win over Drydenat home. Prior to leading the boys varsity program for the past 27 years, Hodges kicked off his coaching career at Union Springs in 1985, starting with the junior varsity boys soccer team for five years. He then went on to lead the girls varsity soccer team for eight seasons.聽
As he looks back on his 40 years with Union Springs, Hodges is appreciative of those who have helped make his career possible.聽
鈥淭wo hundred wins means that I have been around Union Springs Soccer for a long, long time and have been able to do it with an enormous amount of support from a very long list of wonderful people 鈥 especially my very patient and understanding wife, Robin,鈥 Hodges said in a news release.
鈥淵ou can't do this type of work this long without the compassion and cooperation of so many people who are willing to help you out along the way," he continued. 鈥淚 spent five years learning from terrific varsity coaches like Jim Cufari and Al Loucks before taking over the girls varsity soccer program. Five years later, I made the leap to boys varsity, where I鈥檝e had the privilege of working with some wonderful people over the years.鈥
Union Springs/Port Byron boys soccer head coach Jim Hodges and his team after Hodges' 200th career victory Sept. 8.
Provided
Of all the memories that Hodges has made over the last four decades on the field, one stands out the most.聽
鈥淭he most rewarding experience for me personally would be winning the 2014 Section IV, Class B boys soccer championship alongside my son and team captain David,鈥 he said. "That was a great time to be part of our boys soccer program.鈥
This season, Hodges has coached the Wolves to a 6-2 record, which includes their victory in the finals of the Jim Cufari Kickoff Tournament. While he isn't sure what his future entails, his main focus currently is how his team evolves over the second half of this season.
鈥淚 am enjoying watching this team grow and learn聽life lessons through their experiences playing high school soccer," he said. "I am excited to see where this particular group of student-athletes takes me as a coach this fall. I am still having fun with all of this!鈥
