New Hopkins Soccer Coach Looks to Rebuild Program

Justin Hegre is a alumnus with deep roots in the local soccer community, so it was only appropriate when Hopkins High School announced in March that it had hired Hegre as the boys soccer head coach.

Hopkins Patch talked with Hegre via e-mail about his soccer background and the plans he has in store for the team in the upcoming fall.

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Hopkins Patch: What is your hometown and where did you go to high school and college?

Justin Hegre: I grew up in Minnetonka, MN, in the Glen Lake area. I am proud to say that I attended Hopkins High School and the University of Minnesota and am looking forward to taking on this new role in my hometown.  

Hopkins Patch: Tell me a little bit about your soccer background.

Hegre: I've been a soccer player, fan and enthusiast for as long as I can remember. Around 5 or 6 years old is when I began playing at a more organized level, and ultimately joined the traveling program here in Hopkins. Our team, at under-13, qualified for premier status, which we maintained through junior high and high school. In high school, I was a three-year player and was very fortunate to play with a number of talented players and to be coached by both Carl Craig and Chris Bisanz. During my sophomore year of college, I decided to try out for the University Club Team and ended up spending three seasons within the program. Last fall, I had the opportunity to coach for that same program and learned a lot from the students and head coach Alan Merrick. I've spent the last eight years coaching youth soccer in the area, primarily for Hopkins Dynamo Soccer Club and Hopkins High School. Currently I am working with the U9 boys at Hopkins, and the U17 girls at St. Louis Park.         

Hopkins Patch: What is your approach and philosophy as a coach?
Hegre: By the time an athlete has reached the high school level, they have clearly demonstrated a deep passion for the game. It is important for the players to feel valued and that their opinions matter. By this age, they have all developed unique personalities, and I enjoy getting to know each athlete on a personal level. I have found that when players are at ease, they are more coachable, receptive to new ideas and have more fun.  Within this relaxed environment, I really try to get the most out of my players. I believe in high intensity training sessions, getting as many touches on the ball as possible and being fit enough to perform for an extended period of time. I like to stop at various points in each season and ask myself the following questions: Did we improve from last game? Is what we are working on right now helping us achieve our goal? Are we having fun? 

Hopkins Patch: What elements of the game do you think you'll be focusing on in the upcoming season?

Hegre: The high school soccer season here in Minnesota begins and ends in the blink of an eye, and because athletes play for a variety of different youth clubs over the spring/summer, they have little time to get accustomed to playing with each other. Most players will show up to try-outs with great technical ability; the challenge is to get these players to work well together in a new setting. We will focus on team aspects of the game: attacking and defending as a unit, player roles, decision-making, etc. As a new coach, I am determined to cultivate a program and am excited to work with athletes on each of the teams.

Hopkins Patch: What are your goals for the team?

Hegre: We have several goals for this year. Not only do we want to improve our statistics, we'd like to build a program from the ground up. I am looking forward to spending time with players on the ninth, 10th and JV teams, as well as to reaching out to the elementary and middle schools. I know the players and community agree with me when I say we are ready for Hopkins soccer to re-establish themselves as a competitor in what is an extremely tough conference. We want to facilitate growth both at the team and individual level, and provide options for players post high school. We are going to have a lot of fun this year, and if players are excited to train each day, we've already won.  

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