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| Tracie Randall |
Randall, has been around the soccer block and back many times since her playing days at Burnsville High School where the then Braves finished runner-up to Wayzata in the 1991 Class AA title game.
She later played college soccer at Minnesota State, Mankato before beginning her school coaching career with stints at Eden Prairie and Minneapolis Edison.
After taking a few years away from the sport to start a family, Randall began coaching youth soccer in Farmington in 2005 and eventually coached the local 15U team to a state championship. In addition to her youth coaching experience Randall served as varsity assistant at the middle and high schools under then head coach Seamus Trichtler. Currently she is a youth coach, trainer and evaluator for a U12 Select team in Lakeville.
Randall said her coaching philosophy is a simple one.
"I want to create an environment that is supportive and conducive to the growth and physical and emotional development of all players," she said. "If players put in the time, train hard, play hard and keep expectations high, success is inevitable.
"Being a part of the program for the last seven years I have had the opportunity to get to know many great kids and families...I bring many years of coaching and playing experience to the program...Professionally, I work with students with various disabilities so I understand the need to modify and adapt to various learning styles and needs of my players."
Randall said that some recent health challenges faced by her husband Pat have also given her an opportunity to gain a new perspective regarding her approach to her new coaching position.
"The opportunity to coach and work with great kids is what keeps me going," she said, "and it reminds me that life goes on. You only get one shot at it, so make it count!"
Randall inherits a veteran Tiger team that finished 12-5-2 last season while advancing to the Section 1AA championship game. Key returnees from that team include first-team all-state defender Isabelle Ferm and all-state honorable mention goalie selection Ashley Becker.
"Our goal is to get to the section finals again this year," she said. "We're bringing back a good number of girls from last year which will give us the depth and strength we need to come back strong."
Randall is also counting on building on her past relationships with the upperclassmen, many of who she coached in the youth program.
The official opening of fall practice is scheduled for Monday, August 12.
