Small world after all for UW made regular month-long, tactical intentions, according soccer coach fact-finding trips to the to Trask. By Andy Baggot Netherlands and Spain. Sunday, July 11, 2010 Usually he’d stop in France as “It’s about passing and Wisconsin State well. He paid his own way, moving and that’s why these Journal/Madison.com making notes along the way two teams are in the finals,” about players, drills and he said. “I don’t remember in You’ll have to excuse John innovations he’d seen at youth my lifetime — and I was born Trask on Sunday if the academies, military teams and in ’66 — of there being a University of Wisconsin club practices. World Cup where anyone’s men’s soccer coach seems a expecting what they’re bit anxious. There are a couple Trask said that while most of expecting (today).” of good reasons for that. his Dutch acquaintances spoke English, he picked up enough If both countries choose to One is that while his soccer Spanish along the way to keep their feet on the brethren are tuned into the interpret what was being said. accelerator — especially the World Cup final between the Dutch, who might be most Netherlands and Spain, Trask Prior to the World Cup in tempted to slow the pace — will be conducting a local 1998 held in France, Trask Trask anticipates a skills camp for roughly 140 said he told acquaintances breathtaking, transcendent youth players ranging in age they should keep an eye on the game given that defense has from 11 to 18. host country. Sure enough, dictated play over the past 20 France prevailed thanks years of World Cup finals. “I’m going to register all the mainly to midfielder Zinedine kids and TiVo the game and Zidane, whom Trask watched “I think it’s just going to fall come home later in the day up close a year earlier. on when and who scores goals and watch it,” he said, good- and at what moments,” he naturedly mindful of the Trask remembers watching said, offering that an outcome possibility that one of the Robin van Persie, a standout of 4-3 wouldn’t surprise him. participants or one of the Dutch forward, when he was parents will tamper with the 16-year-old up-and-comer. In addition to 14 years suspense. coaching at the college level Trask recalls seeing Spanish — most recently cultivating The other part of Trask’s defender Carles Puyol during the program at Illinois- anxiousness relates to his his first or second season with Chicago into a consistent unique ties with the two Barcelona. NCAA force — Trask worked countries in the final and the as a Major League Soccer way they play. “These guys that have assistant at Miami, matured into the two teams Washington, D.C., and Dallas. “These are my boys, in a that you’re seeing are really As such, his views on where way,” he said. “These are the the background of the way I the U.S. stands in the global guys that I saw come of age.” have been (taught),” Trask pecking order of soccer are said. relevant. While Trask was an assistant coach at his alma mater The two finalists have similar Indiana from 1991 to ’99, he star power, intelligence and Team USA surprisingly won “A lot of key components to its pool but was eliminated by the team have left,” Trask Ghana in the round of 16. said. “Every four years, you get this A large incoming freshman flood of emotions of where we class has good quality, are in America and we seem according to Trask, but it will to be getting better,” Trask take time for that youth to said. “But are we really there? develop. I think a lot of us purists think we’re still a little bit further “I hate to use the word away then we’d like to “rebuilding,” but, shoot, we’re acknowledge.” going to take seven or eight maybe starting freshmen into The same could be said for the the Big Ten (season). That’s UW men’s program, which going to be tough. I don’t care has had three coaches in three how gifted you are.” years. Jeff Rohrman resigned under pressure and was But before Trask coaches a replaced by Todd Yeagley, season with his new boys, whose father, Jerry, built he’ll sit down sometime today Indiana into a perennial and reminisce about his old powerhouse. ones. Todd Yeagley spent 10 ### months in Madison before a coaching change at his alma mater lured him back to Indiana. Trask, who once coached Todd Yeagley in high school, was brought in to pick up the pieces. “I have to keep reminding myself that it’s a transition period,” said Trask, who returned home late Friday night from a recruiting trip. In addition to another change in coaches, the Badgers lost nine seniors from a club that went 7-9-2 overall, 3-3 in the Big Ten Conference. A big ‘Trask’ at hand for one resilient team this year, a University like Wisconsin, UW, as Badgers look for that’s for sure.” in the Big Ten conference — consistency it’s a great experience.” By Kelly Erickson The last few seasons have Wednesday, September 1, been a mental roller coaster, Don’t be fooled. It’s not just a 2010 but fifth-year senior Jon great experience close to The Badger Herald Rzepka also noted how the home that Trask is after. He consistent change has been means business. While he Three coaches in three physically tough in addition to isn’t setting goals for the team seasons; it’s time for some mentally difficult. this season just yet, he is here stability. to do his job well and make “Mentally it is a little tough something more out of the In the spring, John Trask was because you never know how Wisconsin soccer program. named head coach of the the coach is going to feel men’s soccer team, replacing about you as a player,” he “He’s a great coach. He Todd Yeagley, whose tenure said. “Physically too. I never knows his stuff,” Vint said. was just one season. Prior to thought that I’d have to stretch “He’s brought a more Yeagley, Jeff Rohrman was as much as I do now. I’ve now professional approach to both head coach, resigning after his realized that I’m not as preparing for games and also seventh season. This constant flexible and I do have to during training. Trask expects change of coach has put a stretch more.” you to get the job done. When strain on the team, but Trask you come out to train you has one goal for the Badgers: It’s no surprise that a new have to get the job done.” stability. coach brings a lot of change and new things, but the squad Rzepka added, “Right now it At the beginning of the year feels like it has finally found feels like we’re learning the the Badgers had no idea who the right guy for the job. most. Every coach has taught would be leading their team. us different things and now I But the veteran players found Trask believes the fit is right feel like we have the right guy themselves in a familiar too. As a native Wisconsinite, on the job to make us get to situation. Trask feels he’s returned that next step, that next level.” home to a good program “It’s definitely not easy. where he can take charge and While the constant change has We’ve got a great group of create some stability. created a few challenges for seniors, we’ve stuck together the veteran players, the and with all these changes “Stability: that’s the beginning younger ones don’t know any going on around us we’re of it. I’m from Wisconsin so differently. Some are still bound to run into some to come back home it feels adjusting to college soccer challenges,” senior goalkeeper right for me, both from a while others are experiencing Ryan Vint said. “We’ve family perspective and from a whole new level of play. learned over these past few where I am in my coaching years how bouncing back career,” he said. “I’ve been to For sophomore Ata Ozbay, from the challenges matters a lot of different places, I’ve the change of coach made him more than the challenges had good success, but getting almost feel like a freshman all themselves. We’re going to be into an athletic department at over again. “It was a big change for me because I didn’t really know what to expect like the freshman coming in” Ozbay said. “I got used to one coach, we did everything how he wanted to do it. [Now] we have to get used to all these different things he prefers. It was a pleasant change so I think it was better for the team. “It was mainly overcoming the fact that the older guys had been through so many coaches and the younger guys such as myself are just adjusting to college soccer still.” Change is hard to get used to, especially on a team that’s already been through a lot of change in previous years. For Trask, this season isn’t about how many different coaches the Badgers have had in recent years. Instead, he’s here to focus on the team he has and to make something out of the opportunity he’s been given.