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| New Windham High varsity boys' soccer coach Jeff Neal watches his team during the Eagles' first regular season game of the year at Westbrook on Saturday, Sept. 3. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
Windham varsity boys’ soccer Coach Ben Schulz has stepped down and a familiar face will take his place as the boys’ head coach this season. Jeff Neal has been a social studies teacher at Windham High School for 10 years and he’s also been coaching soccer at a variety of levels since before he graduated from the University of Maine Farmington.
Neal played soccer in high school at Bonny Eagle and in college at the University of Maine Farmington. He began coaching before he left college, along with Farmington soccer coach, Bob Leib, who ran the Farmington Recreation Department and oversaw the younger, smaller athletes.
Neal has a Bachelor of Science in secondary education. His interest in education started unknowingly at a very young age. He says he had many influential teachers and coaches as a student at Bonny Eagle.
After discovering a business degree wasn’t for him, he realized he could teach and coach. His life suddenly had meaning and purpose for what he wanted to do. Some of the best teachers he ever had were social studies teachers. Social studies weren’t just names and dates but trying to explain human behavior – why individuals and groups of people do the things they do.
Neal had coaches and teachers that wouldn’t let him fail and it was pivotal to know there was someone in his corner that cared. He recognized the gift those coaches and teachers had given him. It became a life’s calling that he wanted to do the same for a young person.
Around 1997, he took a teaching job at Bonny Eagle where he coached and taught until 2007. In 2007, Neal began as Goalkeeper Coach and team assistant for the men’s and women’s programs at the University of Maine.
Neal has been at Windham High School as a social studies teacher since 2012. When the varsity coaching position became available, he had seen how COVID-19 restrictions had a significant effect on the team.
“It's not fair that this group of kids in this age bracket have had the experience they’ve had. [This] made me go ‘I can’t sit on the sidelines.’ This was an opportunity for me to ... give back to a community,” said Neal.
Windham varsity boys’ soccer senior Owen Gaulrapp said the transition to a new coach has gone nicely; they went into day one with open minds.
Senior Ben LaWind is coming off an injury and said Coach Neal is bringing the team together well. LaWind said trainings are productive with great mentality; Neal wants them to succeed.
“I think Coach Neal stepped into the role really well,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer senior Baxter Engelman. “You can’t really tell he’s a new coach, he knows what he’s doing, and all the kids respect him and work with him. We’re doing very well with a lot of strong individuals.”
Although the season has just started, a long-term goal of Neal’s is to have the kids walk off the field at the end of the season knowing they did their best and gave 100 percent. He wants their experience on the field and with him as a coach to help them sharpen their tools and figure out how to be successful in their lives.
Senior Connor Langstaff said Neal is very encouraging with a lot of positive reinforcement which has brought the team together while Senior Owen Weatherby said Neal is mindful of his team but also focuses on how individual players are doing.
“Jeff has a wealth of knowledge around the game of soccer,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer assistant coach Mitch Hodge. “Players need to feel valued, motivated, and pushed. Jeff is very patient and gives the players a chance to share their thoughts and opinions on things before he makes executive decisions. He keeps things fun and enjoyable, while also striving for greatness. We have a great group of young men and I have nothing but excitement and high hopes for this season.”
When Neal sees a player have a light bulb moment, on the field or in the classroom – when everything just makes sense – that’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being a coach (and teacher).
“See a young person set a goal and ... then help them create a pathway to do it,” said Neal. “And actually, see them have that success. That's the reward. That's what it's all about”.
No matter the result, he will deem it a successful season if they walk away better than they started.
Senior Tyler Johnsen said Neal brings great drills to practice, keeps the intensity high and has been an amazing coach.
In addition to soccer, Neal is a drummer and an avid outdoorsman. He likes to ski, snowboard, snowmobile or get out on the boat or the kayak with his family. He says that we live in a beautiful state and beautiful region and wants to experience as much of it as possible. <
Around 1997, he took a teaching job at Bonny Eagle where he coached and taught until 2007. In 2007, Neal began as Goalkeeper Coach and team assistant for the men’s and women’s programs at the University of Maine.
Neal has been at Windham High School as a social studies teacher since 2012. When the varsity coaching position became available, he had seen how COVID-19 restrictions had a significant effect on the team.
“It's not fair that this group of kids in this age bracket have had the experience they’ve had. [This] made me go ‘I can’t sit on the sidelines.’ This was an opportunity for me to ... give back to a community,” said Neal.
Windham varsity boys’ soccer senior Owen Gaulrapp said the transition to a new coach has gone nicely; they went into day one with open minds.
Senior Ben LaWind is coming off an injury and said Coach Neal is bringing the team together well. LaWind said trainings are productive with great mentality; Neal wants them to succeed.
“I think Coach Neal stepped into the role really well,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer senior Baxter Engelman. “You can’t really tell he’s a new coach, he knows what he’s doing, and all the kids respect him and work with him. We’re doing very well with a lot of strong individuals.”
Although the season has just started, a long-term goal of Neal’s is to have the kids walk off the field at the end of the season knowing they did their best and gave 100 percent. He wants their experience on the field and with him as a coach to help them sharpen their tools and figure out how to be successful in their lives.
Senior Connor Langstaff said Neal is very encouraging with a lot of positive reinforcement which has brought the team together while Senior Owen Weatherby said Neal is mindful of his team but also focuses on how individual players are doing.
“Jeff has a wealth of knowledge around the game of soccer,” said Windham varsity boys’ soccer assistant coach Mitch Hodge. “Players need to feel valued, motivated, and pushed. Jeff is very patient and gives the players a chance to share their thoughts and opinions on things before he makes executive decisions. He keeps things fun and enjoyable, while also striving for greatness. We have a great group of young men and I have nothing but excitement and high hopes for this season.”
When Neal sees a player have a light bulb moment, on the field or in the classroom – when everything just makes sense – that’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being a coach (and teacher).
“See a young person set a goal and ... then help them create a pathway to do it,” said Neal. “And actually, see them have that success. That's the reward. That's what it's all about”.
No matter the result, he will deem it a successful season if they walk away better than they started.
Senior Tyler Johnsen said Neal brings great drills to practice, keeps the intensity high and has been an amazing coach.
In addition to soccer, Neal is a drummer and an avid outdoorsman. He likes to ski, snowboard, snowmobile or get out on the boat or the kayak with his family. He says that we live in a beautiful state and beautiful region and wants to experience as much of it as possible. <
