New Glacier Peak coach is now in charge of the enemy

Published 12:28 am Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Daghan Kesim enjoys a challenge and he has found a new one with the Glacier Peak boys soccer program.

Kesim, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, and the former Cascade High School coach from 2004-08, took over the reins of the Grizzlies inaugural campaign on the pitch this season looking to build a winner with, ironically, a number of former Snohomish High School players — his main rival while at Cascade.

“It’s interesting because I’ve been the biggest trouble maker for the Snohomish school district,” Kesim said.

Glacier Peak inherited four of Snohomish’s more skilled soccer players in Robin Hryciuk, Riley McNamara, Rylan Kautz and Brian Holquin.

Known by outsiders and opponents as a passionate and no-nonsense disciplinarian, Kesim said he sensed a little caution on the part of his new squad.

“They were kind of worried, I think, but they came along pretty good,” Kesim said.

Glacier Peak, a 3A school, competes in the Western Conference South Division and Kesim won’t face his former rival, but there are preliminary plans to create a “Snohomish Cup” played at the end of the season pitting Snohomish against Glacier Peak, according to Snohomish head coach Dan Pingrey.

“We’re trying to start a friendly rivalry; make it something that’s fun,” Pingrey said.

Kesim said not facing his counterpart across the pitch this season is bittersweet.

“I respect Dan highly and our games are always like a chess match,” Kesim said. “I’m sure he’s happy that I’m gone though.”

Kesim, a former professional soccer player, was candid about his time spent at Cascade and the new opportunity at Glacier Peak.

“I took the challenge (at Cascade) and we made the team a nationally-ranked team (following its third-place finish at state during the 2007 season),” Kesim said. “I left behind a good program at Cascade; I left behind a lot of good friends.

“It was sad to leave, but it was time to go for a new challenge,” he added.

Glacier Peak’s new coach credited Cascade athletic director Doug Kloke for helping him develop a better approach in expressing his zeal for coaching soccer.

“I’m a very passionate coach and Doug Kloke taught me how to control that passion in a positive way,” Kesim said.

Kesim is now taking what he learned at Cascade and applying it to building a winning program at Glacier Peak. The Grizzlies have no seniors, but draw from a skilled pool of players in the Snohomish area and have the backing of boosters, parents and the administration.

“Number one, I knew that they were a very motivated program,” Kesim said about his choice to take the Glacier Peak job over other offers from both inside and outside the Western Conference.

With the help of volunteer assistant coach Jeff Gosslee, a 2008 Cascade High School graduate, soccer captain and Herald All-Area forward, Kesim hopes to instill at Glacier Peak the same team leadership and aggressiveness that characterized his former Cascade teams.

“They (the Grizzlies) are getting stronger,” Kesim said. “We are defending everything; everyone is going to fight, everyone is going to be aggressive. I am bringing the spirit of the Cascade fight to them, but I’ll be using Snohomish skill.”

Set plays (throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks) were a staple of the Cascade game and Kesim plans to make them a large focus at Glacier Peak. The coach said he expects Hryciuk and sophomore Gregor Troost (another former Panther) to lead the attack out of the central midfield and McNamara and Holquin will be positioned as strikers.

Rylan Kautz who earned the imposing nickname “Hammer” while at Snohomish will anchor the central defense. Kesim described his defensive leader as a comparable to a “25-year-old UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter.”

“He’s one of the best defenders in the state,” Kesim said.

Glacier Peak kicked off the season Tuesday versus Mountlake Terrace at Snohomish Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

“It’s going to be interesting this year with our split,” Snohomish’s Pingrey said. “The talent pool is being spread out.”