Vissia’s approach to coaching goes much deeper than wins and losses

 

FREMONT–Throughout his long coaching career, Steve Vissia has realized there is more to the game of soccer than just winning and losing games.

 

Oh, don’t get him wrong, he loves to win, but through his nearly 26-year career of coaching, it goes much deeper than that.

 

“As I’m getting older, I’m realizing the wins are fun, they are great, but I was missing the kids there for a bit,” Vissia said. “You get so focused on the wins and what are the adjustments we have to make, but there were times I lost a kid in a situation. And so as time goes on, I enjoy the kids more, I think, and invest in the relationship. I was investing in the relationship before as well but …”

 

A year ago, the Packers were slightly better than .500, but Vissia would label that as a “great year” because of that focus on other things besides winning.

 

Most of Vissia’s coaching career, which began in 1996, has been in a place he’s called home for much of his 48 years – Fremont.

 

“I love Fremont,” Vissia said. “I grew up here and it’s a great place to raise a family and work.”

 

Vissia went through Fremont as a student, played soccer then took his talents to Spring Arbor University, where he played 4 years. He received his first job offer at Fremont, accepted it, and has been there ever since, both as a teacher and a coach.

 

“When you’re 20, the last place you want to end up is in Fremont,” said Vissia, laughingly. “But I’ve been blessed to have a great school to work for.”

 

There have been successes along the way like 2007 and 2009 when the Vissia-led Packers advanced to the state semifinals in girls soccer. But then along came one of the soccer giants in girls soccer.

 

“Both times we hit Hudsonville Unity Christian, and you know deep down we’re not one of the top four teams in the state, but because they shoot you north, you get blessed with that,”  Vissia said. “2007 was a fun ride and 2009 was fun. Those were great years.”

 

In all, the girls have won five district championships along the way and one for the boy.

 

The boys have won a handful of conference titles – 2009, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

 

Vissa did have a short stint coaching at Grace University in Grand Rapids from 2012-2014.

 

He would run practice in Fremont before hitting the recruiting trail for Grace. And that was certainly a highlight on his journey.

 

“I was loving it, but I had young kids, so every year at the end of the season my wife and I would have a sit down,” Vissia said. As soon as his wife told him how much he was missing of their sons’ lives, that was it.

 

“I was chasing this dream,” he said. “I mean, who doesn’t want to be a college coach? But when she said, that I thought, ‘am i going to give up my kids and my marriage … no chance.”

 

And now Vissia’s three sons will all experience playing for their father. Grant, 20, is the oldest and he is currently playing soccer at Huntington University, a Christian university in Huntington, Ind.. He is a sophomore defender for the Foresters. Middle son, John, will be a senior on this fall’s Packer team and Caleb will be a sophomore in the fall. He saw some time in goal last fall.

 

His daughter, Esther, is a seventh grader who prefers basketball and volleyball, but soccer is certainly in her top three.

 

After 26 years, could there be plans to step aside anytime soon, wait until his kids have gone through the program or go way beyond that?

 

“I enjoy doing it, but as I get older the spiritual aspects of feeding into these kids is a bigger and bigger deal,” said Vissia, who doesn’t have a time table for retirement. “I like what I’m doing and as long as I feel The Lord has called me to do this, I am going to continue to do it,” he said. “As soon as He says I need to get out, I will leave.”

 

But in the meantime, Vissia will continue pouring his heart and soul into his job and his coaching. 

 

“The time is short in helping kids,” said Vissia, who teaches Social Studies, U.S. History and Psychology. “I feel like kids are struggling today and you try to guide them along the best path.”