02/08/08
After Alan Koch led the Wildcats back to the nation’s upper echelon of men’s soccer, the Clan called for one of its own to come back home.
Koch announced his resignation as head coach of the Baker University men’s soccer team last Friday to take the reigns of his alma mater, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. He will officially assume the head coaching responsibilities of the Clan March 1.
In 1998, as a player with the Clan, Koch was named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American. He also served as an assistant coach at Simon Fraser from 2001 to 2003.
Koch amassed a 22-16 overall record in the two seasons he led Baker. During the 2007 season the ‘Cats climbed as high as No. 15 in the NAIA poll and reached the second round of the NAIA Region V playoffs, where they were narrowly defeated by Graceland University.
While the timing wasn’t perfect for Baker or himself, Koch said it was an offer he couldn’t give up.
“It was a very difficult decision to make, and it’s bittersweet,” Koch said. “Baker University has been amazing to me, and we really developed something special in the last two years. I almost wish I could stay for a few more years to finish off what we’ve started, but timing is everything in life, and who knows if this chance would ever come again for me.”
Junior Matt Hodges said the announcement was staggering, but after some time the players will adjust.
“We were very shocked by the news of coach Koch’s resignation,” he said. “But as far as I know, most of our guys are going to stay and finish what we started at Baker.”
Koch inherits a program coming off its best season since 1991. In 2007, the Clan finished the regular season 13-1-1 and continued that success in the postseason, winning the NAIA Region I Championship, before succumbing to Azusa Pacific University, the eventual NAIA National Champions, in the NAIA Final Four.
While he can’t predict the future, Koch said he could see himself in Canada for a while.
“I can never say never, but Simon Fraser is a program that has been around for 40 years and has only had three coaches,” Koch said. “I could see myself being here for a long time.”
Baker athletic director Dan Harris said he understood Koch’s decision.
“It is his dream job, and I support his decision to move on,” he said.
Harris took immediate action to fill the vacancy left by Koch and named women’s head coach Nate Houser as the director of soccer for Baker.
Houser will have the task of leading both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.
Koch said he has faith that Houser will lead the men’s team to greatness, but knows it will be difficult to lead two teams.
“I have 100 percent faith in coach Houser,” Koch said. “I think he will do a great job with the guys. However, I don’t envy him because it will be difficult to lead two teams, but if anybody can embrace it and succeed, it will be him.”
