Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Pitharoulis takes on another rebuilding job
Kosta Pitharoulis, who turned around the Everett High School girls soccer program, has been hired to do the same thing with the Seagull boys
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
Everett girls soccer coach Kosta Pitharoulis (wearing a hat) hands off the championship trophy to his players after the Seagulls beat Seattle Prep for the Class 3A state girls soccer championship in November of 2008.
After turning around the girls soccer program at Everett High School, Kosta Pitharoulis has decided to tackle another rebuilding project.
Everett High School named Pitharoulis its head boys soccer coach on Thursday. The 32-year-old is in his eighth season coaching Everett's girls soccer team, which won the Class 3A state title last year and is unbeaten (10-0) this fall.
Just as Everett's girls program was in a major rut when Pitharoulis was hired earlier this decade, the Everett boys soccer program has struggled mightily. The Seagulls were 3-13-1 this past spring and allowed 40 more goals than they scored.
Pitharoulis said his success with the Everett girls should help him rejuvenate the boys team. When Pitharoulis took over, the Everett girls had not been to the state tournament since 1993. This fall the Seagulls will shoot for their fourth straight state appearance.
“I hope that coming in I have some clout with the students (because) we've reached the pinnacle of high school sports (the girls' 3A championship), and so I hope that they feel just a renewed energy in the program and that they want to be a part of it,” Pitharoulis said.
Pitharoulis — who has guided the Everett girls to 17 consecutive victories and wins in 26 of their past 27 games — replaces former Everett boys soccer coach Brent Anderson, who resigned to spend more time with his children, Everett School District athletic director Robert Polk said.
“We are very excited to have Kosta as the new boys coach,” Polk wrote in an e-mail. “He brings a high level of knowledge and coaching talent to the program.”
Named the 2008 State Coach of the Year (small-school girls category) by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Pitharoulis coached the Everett boys junior-varsity team for one season shortly after he became the girls varsity coach. He has coached boys at the select level but not for several years “so it will be kind of an exciting new journey,” he said. “I'm just hoping to get the guys excited about coming out this year and hopefully they will turn out as expected.”
Several freshmen could make an immediate impact on the boys team, Pitharoulis said. The coach also hopes to attract talented select players who haven't turned out for Everett's squad in the past.
“It's definitely an opportunity to try and change the culture when it comes to the boys soccer program,” Pitharoulis said.
From spring 2004 through this past spring, the Everett boys soccer team has 12 wins, 77 losses and eight ties, according to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association records. Everett was outscored 329-72 in those six seasons.
The Everett boys have been to the state playoffs only once, in 1998.
Aiming for significant progress while setting reasonable expectations will be important, Pitharoulis said.
Although he hasn't officially been introduced to the Everett boys team, Pitharoulis has seen the Seagulls in action. Last spring he served as the public-address announcer for their games at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
Everett High School named Pitharoulis its head boys soccer coach on Thursday. The 32-year-old is in his eighth season coaching Everett's girls soccer team, which won the Class 3A state title last year and is unbeaten (10-0) this fall.
Just as Everett's girls program was in a major rut when Pitharoulis was hired earlier this decade, the Everett boys soccer program has struggled mightily. The Seagulls were 3-13-1 this past spring and allowed 40 more goals than they scored.
Pitharoulis said his success with the Everett girls should help him rejuvenate the boys team. When Pitharoulis took over, the Everett girls had not been to the state tournament since 1993. This fall the Seagulls will shoot for their fourth straight state appearance.
“I hope that coming in I have some clout with the students (because) we've reached the pinnacle of high school sports (the girls' 3A championship), and so I hope that they feel just a renewed energy in the program and that they want to be a part of it,” Pitharoulis said.
Pitharoulis — who has guided the Everett girls to 17 consecutive victories and wins in 26 of their past 27 games — replaces former Everett boys soccer coach Brent Anderson, who resigned to spend more time with his children, Everett School District athletic director Robert Polk said.
“We are very excited to have Kosta as the new boys coach,” Polk wrote in an e-mail. “He brings a high level of knowledge and coaching talent to the program.”
Named the 2008 State Coach of the Year (small-school girls category) by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Pitharoulis coached the Everett boys junior-varsity team for one season shortly after he became the girls varsity coach. He has coached boys at the select level but not for several years “so it will be kind of an exciting new journey,” he said. “I'm just hoping to get the guys excited about coming out this year and hopefully they will turn out as expected.”
Several freshmen could make an immediate impact on the boys team, Pitharoulis said. The coach also hopes to attract talented select players who haven't turned out for Everett's squad in the past.
“It's definitely an opportunity to try and change the culture when it comes to the boys soccer program,” Pitharoulis said.
From spring 2004 through this past spring, the Everett boys soccer team has 12 wins, 77 losses and eight ties, according to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association records. Everett was outscored 329-72 in those six seasons.
The Everett boys have been to the state playoffs only once, in 1998.
Aiming for significant progress while setting reasonable expectations will be important, Pitharoulis said.
Although he hasn't officially been introduced to the Everett boys team, Pitharoulis has seen the Seagulls in action. Last spring he served as the public-address announcer for their games at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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