By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Somerset — Brian Elliott was named as the Pulaski girls’ new soccer coach.
Wait a minute. Did I say new?
Elliott is anything but new to the Pulaski County High School soccer program, as he has been a big part of both the girls and boys soccer programs since their inception.
Elliott was the boys soccer coach when they made an unprecedented State Tournament Final 8 appearance in 2000 and he was even inspirational in the construction the Maroons’ present soccer facility.
In short, Elliott has been one of the programs’ (both boys and girls) most active supporter through the years and has done lots for the sport of soccer at Pulaski County High School.
“I guess when you talk about the transition of a new coach that doesn’t really apply to this situation,” Elliott reasoned. “I was an assistant coach last year for the girls program and I have coached most of these girls when they were playing in middle school. So, I don’t feel the girls will have to make any transition with me being the new coach.”
The only transition may be Elliott’s ‘John Wooden-like’ style of game preparation.
“I firmly believe games are won and lost on the practice field,” Elliott said. “I expect a lot from my players in practices, because if feel you are only as good in game situations as you are in your work in practices.”
“I don’t scream and get mad in game situations because there is no need to,” Elliott explained. “If you do the work in practices then you will be prepared in game situations, but if you don’t practice hard, then I can’t be upset with poor performances in game situations. Your either prepared or you’re not.”
That type of philosophy has served Elliott well in his four years as the boys’ head soccer coach and a year as the girls soccer coach.
In 2000, Elliott guided the boys soccer program to a level that has never came close to being duplicated. That Elliott coached team upset Somerset to win the district, upset North Laurel (overtime) and Oneida Baptist Institute (shootout) to claim the 16th Region title, and then a thrilling 2-1 win over Danville to win the sub-section. Elliott and the Maroons finally succumbed to Covington Catholic in the State Tournament Final Eight.
“There were some magical moments here at the Pulaski soccer field,” Elliott reminisced. “This place was packed with people and when we scored that winning goal against Danville this place went crazy.”
Despite having to pick up the pieces from a struggling 4-11-2 record from last year’s Lady Maroon program, Elliott is optimistic of his team’s chances of a good season this fall.
“From what I saw in summer camp, these girls are willing to work hard, listen and they all have a desire to win,” Elliott said.
Amazingly, Elliott has a limited background in the sport of soccer, but he believes that helps him in a sense.
“I never was a soccer person growing up,” Elliott admitted. “When I was teaching at Northern a few of the middle school kids played up on the varsity soccer team and I would come to games to support them. Several of the middle school parents then came up to me and asked if I could start up a middle school soccer program.”
“I bought some books about soccer and tried to learn as much as I could about the sport,” Elliott said. “Not having played soccer, I guess I have a different perspective on the game than maybe other traditional type coaches.”
“The one thing I really emphasize to my players is that no one is strictly an offensive player nor is anyone strictly a defensive player,” Elliott said. “I expect all my players to play offense and defense, because many goals are scored from the defensive transition to offense.”
