LocalSportsJournal.com
Spring Lake High School soccer coach Jeremy Thelen has decided to cut back on his coaching duties in the 2016-17 school year.
Thelen, who just completed his 10th season coaching the girls soccer team, will only coach the boys team in the 2016-17 school year.
“The program is in a good spot and it’s time to step away,” said Thelen whose girls team advanced to the Division 2 state semifinals in 2013 and has made the regional finals the last three seasons.
“I’d like to spend time other places and help my wife a little better. I missed a bunch of my son’s baseball games and our kids are eight and six years old.”
Thelen leaves behind a girls program that’s losing only three seniors from this year’s squad and had six returning freshmen who saw playing time this season.
“I think it will be something exciting for a new coach (to take over),” said Thelen, a 1993 Grand Haven grad. “And with the new conference, the timing of it was good.”
Thelen looks forward to coaching the boys again this fall and knows he has great support at home in his wife Jodi.
“Her big thing was don’t make our kids be the reason (for stepping down) but what makes you the happiest,” Thelen said. “The funny part was my daughter was born on April 14 at 2 a.m. and I went and coached a game later that day. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
