Julian Buss took the helm of the Tiger boys soccer team in the fall of 2009, a season that produced just four victories. Three years later he has been chosen by his peers as the Section 1AA Coach of the Year.
The good news came at an end-of-the-year meeting of section coaches where the third-year Tiger coach was nominated by Lakeville North coach Peter Tyma. The vote was unanimous.
"I was honored to receive the reward because I was chosen by my peers," Buss said. "They felt our team had improved and come to the point where we are at a different level than we have been. That means a lot to me."
Buss coached the Tigers to an 8-7-2 record this season, the fist winning mark in the program's history. Among the highlights of the 2011 campaign were a thrilling 1-0 win over Missota Conference runner-up Northfield and a grueling 0-0 overtime tie with Lakeville North.
"Beating Northfield at home was the biggest memory for me," Buss said. "That was the point where I felt like we had reached where we wanted to be as a varsity team. Now we need to look at playing at that level consistently."
Buss said his coaching philosophy centers around athletics serving as an extension of the classroom.
"None of the soccer-specific skills we work on every day in practice will translate into finding and keeping a good job," he said. "But the other skills learned like working as a team, believing in one's ability, dealing with adversity, winning and losing, sacrificing, communicating, working hard and dedicating oneself transcend the playing field."
Buss added that one of the aspects of his coaching duties that he will continue to stress is promoting boys soccer at the high school.
"I need to get out and spread the word," he said. "There are still boys out there
that should play soccer but for various reasons do not participate in high school athletics.
"These are the boys I am trying to reach. It is next to impossible to have a competitive program without high participation numbers. Success breeds success so hopefully we have made the turn toward a successful program by increasing participation and having our first winning record."
