Monday, June 1, 2015
2015
This has been my all-time favorite quote
since my cancer diagnosis in 2011. It is from Mark Batterson's "In a Pit
with a Lion on a Snowy Day". Coach Huber gave this book to read as I
headed in for surgery. It has been a great inspiration to me these past 4
years. I am so blessed to have a friend like Coach Huber that speaks in to not
only my life but every student-athlete that comes in to this program/university. He has
shown incredible passion for this program. His passion has changed the culture
of the program by leading the way with Night of Nets, mission trips to
Dominican Republic and Zambia and so many other areas on and off the
field.
Coach Herdsman is another man with great
passion for this program. In addition to coaching here at CU, Coach Herdsman is
a full-time coach for Midwest United and has been with them since 2007. He
currently serves as their Director of Sports Performance. Coach Herdsman played
professionally in Germany with Spandau BC before coming back to the US and then
showed up in Michigan (miracle!) to play for Cornerstone University. In 2000 he led this program to a successful season and went on to earn many awards including All American honors. In 2001, he was drafted into the MLS (17th overall) by
Colorado Rapids. He later went on to play with Columbus Crew. After his time in
MLS, he moved back to West Michigan with his wife Betsy (CU Alum) and daughter Lindsay.
In addition to coaching with us, he served as head coach of the West Michigan
Edge PDL team from 2007-2008 in addition to the numerous club teams. He has won
state championships with the U15 Boys in 2012 and the U15 Girls in 2015. It is
a privilege to have Coach Herdsman as part of this program. I have been at
Cornerstone for 17 years and I can honestly say Coach Herdsman has played a
part in any and all success we have ever had here. His passion for this program
has changed the culture here.
Here's my point...
Visioneering
You should all be working on the summer
read, Visioneering, by now. It is an excellent read
and think it will help us prepare a Vision for this season. Big thanks goes out
to Coach Huber for providing the books.
My first thoughts from Chapter 1- Building
Block #1
"A God-ordained vision will begin as
a concern. You will hear or see something that gets your attention. A though
related to the future will generate an emotion. Something will bother you about
the way things are headed....Nehemiah's concern over the condition of Jerusalem
consumed him. It broke his heart. Thoughts of what was as
opposed to what could be brought tears to his eyes. It changed
his countenance. Everyone who knew him was aware that something was bothering
Nehemiah. This was not a casual concern. This was a vision in the
making."
What's bothering you? The last 2 years, we have been a
program without passion. I sympathize with Nehemiah's concern over the
condition of the Jerusalem (our program). This program could be so much more
when it comes to our passion but when guys put on a façade of faithfulness/commitment/passion,
it shows that our hearts are nowhere near to God and the plans He has for each
of you in this program. We have guys put on a jersey pretending to be faithful
followers of the program as well as the Lord when in reality our hearts are far
from both. We are surrounded by people who put on a façade of belief. Their
"fakeness" is an insult to God as well as everyone connected to this
program. What God wants from us is our heart and the actions that follow give
glory to God when they flow from a heart submitted to Him. This is where
passion is found-your heart. I want to challenge all of you to take this summer
to examine your heart. Are the actions and words that identify you, coming from
a place of passion or are they simply attempts to appear faithful i.e.
"just wear the jersey"?
What is the solution? Our Foundational Principles were
put in to place to help identify "who we should be" as a program.
These are the building blocks for the Cornerstone Men's Soccer program.
- The Right Person
- Communicate Effectively
- Support the Mission of the Team
- Servant Leadership
- Strive to Make Teammates Better
- Unspeakable Impact
- Defining Moments
- Dogged Pursuit of Excellence
- Play to a Standard
- Kopion
During the
summer, we will define and determine how this team will integrate these
principles in to everything we do as well as what we want to accomplish this season.
What should
be? Cornerstone
University Men’s Soccer Program will use the sport of soccer and of athletic
competition to worship God and to bring Him glory as we play for Christ as
Kingdom Citizens. We are committed to developing exemplary student-athletes:
individuals who strive for competitive excellence, academic achievement and
seeking to be Christ-centered servant leaders.
We will see on
August 8th!
I Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
Recent Team News
2015
Zambia Trip
Jr. Matt Wisen helps deliver soccer balls
to our friend Kennedy Phiri and Ndola Youth Soccer Academy. Not quite sure what
Coach Isaac is doing in background.
Coach Isaac, Matt Wisen, Matt Larsen and
Rex Pickar (team manager) all made the trip to Zambia this year. We are looking
to take a full soccer squad to Zambia in 2016. This will be the first trip with
just soccer. Details to come.
Note from Coach Huber: Here's a summary report/article
from our partner in Zambia about the recent GO Trip to Zambia with CU
students...we continue to be so blessed at this growing partnership developing
across the world...it is transforming lives here and there...
The director and founder of Jubilee,
Lawrence Temfwe, will be here to speak in chapel for GO Week in September along
with attending our Night of Nets Men's Soccer Game during Family Weekend...
Coach
Lile travels to Kenya
"Our church, Harvest Bible Chapel
Spring Lake, has a church plant going in in Limuru Town, Kenya. Our group
went over to help Pastor James Omwamba launch Harvest Bible Chapel, Limuru Town
Kenya! They conducted a bible school program for the kids at the local
tea plantation one day, they were part of a pastors conference, they took a
portion of a day to look for some land for the church to acquire since they
don’t currently own their own building. The big event was helping with
the launch and was there to film the event"...Coach Lile
Kern
Matthews joins 2015 Coaching Staff
Born in Trinidad and Tobago West Indies,
coach Matthews came to the United States in 1996 on a soccer Scholarship where
he played all four years at Cornerstone University; playing under coach Bell
during his Junior and Senior seasons.
While at Cornerstone he earned his
Bachelor's degree in Business Marketing, was a four-time All-Conference player,
an All-Regional player, All-America Honorable mention and captained the 1999
men's varsity soccer team.
Coach Matthews played semi-professionally
during the summers of 1997 and 1999 for the then Grand Rapids Explosion and
West Michigan Edge, and three seasons in the summer for the Hispanic League in
1998, 2000 and 2003.
He was also one of the lead instructors
during Cornerstone University's soccer camps from 1997-2000, counselor at the
University of Notre Dame soccer camps in 1999 and was the assistant coach under
Tony Gonzales for the Kentwood Falcons boys U-14 travel team from 2000-2001.
He currently resides with his wife Kate
and their four children; ages 9, 6 and 5 year old twins. They both coach their
older boys who play at the U-10 and U-6 levels for AYSO.
Most recently Coach Matthews was the men’s
head coach at Kuyper College during it’s final season in 2014.
“Coaching at Kuyper was a tremendous
experience. It was truly an honor and blessing to have an impact on the lives
of young men who played with a passion for Christ.”
“I am extremely excited to be part of
Cornerstone athletics again; not only as an alumni but now as a coach. I feel
as though I’m returning home and to be part of something greater than myself.”
Congrats
and good luck this season Diego!
Team Goals
Here is a
collection of concepts and principles from successful programs all over the
world. Some are from successful colleges/universities as well as professional
teams. I want this program to strive towards each of these goals
Game Related
- Score 1st
- 300 Passes
with 70%
- 7 Shots on
Goal
- 45 BW with no
more than 3 fouls in Defensive 1/3
- Shutout
- Result-Win
Team Related
- Team can
articulate the characteristics of our system (a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1).
- As a team, we
show marked improvement in our Technical Possession. We will see an
improvement in all Positive categories of Game Reports:
- (# of Passes,
Pass%, BW, HB, SOG): “If you are better than your opponent with the ball,
you have a 79% chance of winning the game” (Brendan Rodgers)
- As a team, we
focus on raising our Team Pass%. Technical Passing should come to mean
perfect passing, the fact that all of our players are comfortable on the
ball, and have perfect technique. Always with the ball and striving for
perfection.
- Team
Defending: It all starts with 1 v 1 defending. Movement, Pressing and
Compaction
- Efficiency in
Final 1/3 with an increase Goals scored as well as SOG
- We
realize/understand our use of statistical analysis. We incorporate the
concrete, performance–related feedback. We use the analysis for the common
goal of working to increase soccer excellence (physical, technical, and
tactical). Learn how it helps us identify trends or unexpected player
information that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
- Through
dedication, hard work and personal character, we earn the respect of each
other as well as our opponents.
- Our style of
play is uncompromising, demands 100% effort and is characterized by each
player’s courage.
Training
- Always
intense, focused, efficient, mentally and physically challenging
- Always
mindfully training for the 1 v1 duels/battles
- Training is
just as important as games. If you only give 70% to training, you can’t
expect to be able to play 100% in game
- Winning games
is a natural by product of the time and effort put in to training every
day of the week, throughout the season and as well as the off season
- How you play
is a product of how you train
- “We don’t win
a game during 90+ minutes. A winning team is made day by day, training
session by training session, minute by minute”-Jose Mourinho
Fitness
- We must be
recognized as the hardest working team
- 5:15 Mile
(pre-season camp)
- SEBCOE under 22 minutes (pre-season camp)
Off the Field
- 3.0 or better Team GPA. The spring roster had a final gpa of 3.1. This is the first time we have been able to achieve this goal.
- Zero Study Table violations
- We will observe Cornerstone’s Community Covenant. To break the Covenant is a violation of integrity, whether or not you agree with the tenets of the Covenant
- Set high standards that carry over in to all areas of life-spiritual, academic, family, professional, etc
- Daily habits and choices reflect the long-term goals of the program/University.
- Maximizes every opportunity to get better
- Passionate and Authentic
- Performance oriented through preparation and attention to detail
- Willing to step out of circumstances and see the truth of matters with a critical eye.
- Focus on the task at hand-whether it is class, practice, a small group devotion-always gives it his all
- Self-Aware of our desperation for the Trinity (Father God, Son-Christ and Holy Spirit)
- Communicate vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately
- Respond to criticism with prayer, remembrance and if needed, a revision of the plan
That's all for now!
