Coach Bob Weir (continued)

During his illustrious, 33-year career as Plano Senior High School's (PSHS) head soccer coach, hired by then Athletic Director John Clark, Coach Weir's advantages on the playing field have resulted in six state championships and numerous regional and district victories. His current team is in the playoffs, defeating Cedar Hill 3-1 this week and heading to the area playoff game against Flower Mound on Friday at The Colony.

Coach Weir (left) is pictured with the 2009 state championship team.

Popularity has assisted the Plano Senior High School soccer program in maintaining a tradition for a bigger, better, competitive group of young men who have swept the competition during many seasons. Once Coach Weir's boys are in "the zone," they don't quit. "Maybe one or two young men have left the program mid-way," he said. "But most of our freshmen continue through to their senior year because they enjoy the sport and they love representing their school."

Coach Weir and Assistant Coach Doug Adams proudly displayed the 2009 championship game trophy with Athletic Director Gerald Brence, PSHS Athletic Director Jaydon McCullough, Assistant Coach Mark Marshall and Principal Dr. Doyle Dean.

Hailing from the small town of Westboro, Massachusetts, 30 miles from Boston, Coach Weir played all the sports he could tackle as a youngster, including football, basketball, baseball, track, gymnastics and tennis. By his junior year, he touched down on the soccer field, playing mid-fielder ("A creative position," he said), which he was also tagged to play at Worcester State College in Massachusetts. He landed at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the beckoning of his hometown friend and fellow soccer coach Howard Patterson. He earned his master's degree there and has called Texas "home" ever since.

According to PSHS Athletic Director Jaydon McCullough, "Coach Weir has definitely been a rock star around Plano Senior High School...I've come full circle with Coach Weir. I was his student, then his co-worker (Jaydon coached for Weir during the soccer teams' 1995 and 2000 state victories) and then one of his parents (son Tex played for Weir).

Coach Weir with senior David Stitts before this week's victory over Cedar Hill.

"The kids really want to achieve all of their goals, not only for themselves but for Coach Weir," said Jaydon. "He's a guy of vision. He's already thinking about what he wants before he does it, and he communicates that well to his coaches, players and parents. He has a servant's heart, and he has the kind of karma that causes dreams to come to him because he has such a positive way of doing things."

PSHS Principal Dr. Doyle Dean said, "Coach Weir values the individual students and the team. It is never about the coach. This is why he is able to work successfully with students who play on the school team as well as club teams."

Co-Captain and Senior Forward Zachary Balthazar (pictured during this week's victorious game against Cedar Hill), said "Coach Weir never gives up on the team and, in return, the team never gives up."

Zachary Balthazar, one of four team captains, said, "Coach Weir never gives up on the team and, in return, the team never gives up. I gained my confidence back while playing for Coach Weir. I had the best experience ever by winning the state championship last year. He lead us to state and he has an exceptional record in getting the Wildcats to playoffs and winning championships. Coach expects the best from us which makes us try to live up to his expectations. He has taught us the responsibility of being good leaders. These are life lessons."

Michael Darrow, co-captain, said of Coach Weir, "He continues upon tradition, which is the huge theme of our school."

"He has the ability to be a serious coach but, at the same time, a joking, fun guy. He makes practice enjoyable. And, he encourages his captains to be positive. He lets us come to him with ideas, and he really listens and considers our opinions."

Soccer teammates are inspired daily by a trophy case filled with decades of district, regional and state championship memories.

Sean Cote, co-captain, appreciates how, "Coach Weir pushes us to be the best we can be. He always makes us laugh and we always enjoy playing soccer for him. He has made my experience at plano outstanding."

Coach Weir's program has helped develop hundreds of young athletes over the past three decades. He's coached 20 sets of twins, one set of triplets and a father and son, Chris and Brian Amos, respectively. Brian is currently assistant soccer coach at Duke University, where 2009 state championship twins Chris and Ryan Brown are now playing soccer.

Also on the 2009 team were Dillon Powers, Gatorade National Player of the Year, who now plays for Notre Dame; Ryan McDuff, who is playing for Brown; Danny Hahn, who signed on at the University of Chicago; Andrew VanWoescik, playing for Northern Illiniois and a host of other players who signed on at smaller universities. Dillon, Danny and Ryan were also teammates on the national boys soccer championship team, playing with their Andromeda Club, coached by Dillon's father Mike Powers of the Dallas Sidekicks.

Coach Weir gives the team pointers before their game this week. PSHS Athletic Director Jaydon McCullough said Coach Weir is "a guy of vision. He's already thinking about what he wants before he does it, and he communicates that well to his coaches, players and parents."

A combination of talent, academic eligibility, low injury, desire to represent their school and a pride in tradition combine to form a state championship winning team, reflected Coach Weir, who believes that soccer is unique in that it takes a combination of hand, eye and foot coordination and endurance to be at the top level.

"You're playing on a big field. You can be creative with the ball. It fascinates me how there are three lines working hard to get the goal," he continued. "There's a front line, middle line and goal keeper, who is the one teammate with individual responsibility. You have a lot of characters who you meld together to make a team."

While state championships are a valued accomplishment, Coach Weir tells his players to make academics their first priority. "I tell the boys that academics and family come first. They can miss practice for tutorials and family emergencies." In fact, Coach Weir's boys know that if anything happens to his dog "Tyson" (a nine-year-old boxer), he'll be taking care of his best friend first. "He walks me every morning and evening," he joked.

In addition to coaching Plano soccer, Coach Weir serves as the physical education teacher at Harrington Elementary School. "Teaching elementary school is very enjoyable," he said. "The students are so excited to learn and to see you every day." He did learn during his first day on that job 13 years ago not to have the students remove their shoes for any of the games. "I remember tying all the second graders' shoe laces in a big hurry at the end of that first class period," he chuckled.

Harrington Principal Ann Irvine said that Coach Weir brings enthusiasm and a love for young children to each and every day that he coaches at Harrington. "All students are actively participating throughout the entire PE session," she said. "Teamwork and good sportsmanship are life skills imparted in Coach Weir's kindergarten through 2nd grade classes. The entire faculty and student body cheer Coach Weir on every soccer season to victory."

Coach Weir and his wife Pam, who is Frisco ISD's secondary instructional technology director, have two sons, Jason and Matthew. Jason is an elementary physical education coach at Frisco's Ogle Elementary School. Jason's wife Jaalla is a kindergarten teacher at the same school. Son Matthew is a recent graduate of Oklahoma University and is pursuing a career as a graphic designer in Dallas.

 

Photos are courtesty of John Pippard, Plano ISD photographer (2009 state championship photos), and Bill Youngblood, Rose Haggar Elementary School CTA (this week's game photos).

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