Forest Park’s Sichler coach of the year

By Robert Daski

Published: June 27, 2008

• Age: 46
• Year: Third
• Accomplishments: Forest Park finished 15-3, won the Cardinal District tournament, advanced to the Northwest Region tournament final and played in the Group AAA state tournament. 
• Most memorable moment: “Our win over Annandale was big. Our team went up to the Northern Region and beat a very good team. Also the regional championship game. The boys fought back. They showed a lot of heart. They didn’t win, but they didn’t give up.”
• Who has influenced you most as a coach?  “My high school lacrosse coach was a huge influence. When I was a junior, my lacrosse team was second in the state and my football team was first. My coaches had a big influence on everything I’ve done.”
• Where did the team improve most from last year to this year? “Teamwork. The individual skills were there. As a team, they came together. When you’ve got 14 seniors, the maturity level is high and they cared a lot about each other. If you have a tight group of guys, that makes them play better.”
• Where did the team improve from last year to this year? “Team cohesion. We had a lot of players back from last season. They worked together and the defense was the most improved. They started hanging out together by getting together after practices. They’d go to practice early and practice their stick skills.”
• What did you learn about yourself as a coach this season? “We were at Virginia Tech and I visited with our former athletes and I asked ‘How can I relate to these young kids?’. Each one shared a different perspective. You can’t force it. You’ve got to let the kids have fun. You can’t increase the stress level on ‘em. ”