We sat down with new Stephens College Head Soccer Coach Ben Stein to get his perspective just ahead of the Stars first game of the season.
Introduce yourself & tell us how you came to Stephens College.
My dad coached my soccer team when I was a little kid in the Chicago suburbs. I eventually grew up and went to the University of Pittsburgh for their mechanical engineering program. I did miss soccer, and I ended up walking onto the team as a junior. After graduating, I got a job, but didn’t really enjoy it whereas I loved volunteer coaching at a local high school. From there, I started coaching a lot more and eventually was an assistant coach at four different colleges before Stephens.
Why Stephens?
Being the head coach at Stephens was a very exciting prospect to me. It is a very interesting school in a neat area that also happens to be in the Midwest, closer to my family. I also was very intrigued by the excitement around athletics at Stephens. Everyone I talked to mentioned the trajectory our athletics programs are on and how they should continue to improve in the coming years. It is great when you’re at a place that supports you and the growth of your team.
What are your expectations for the season?
Expectations are high after some historic wins last year. I don’t know the full history of Stephens soccer, yet, but the victory over William Woods in last year’s quarterfinal was awesome. I am looking to build sustainable success where, year-in and year-out, we are a contender in our conference. We have talked a lot within our team about culture so far and keeping a standard. Our expectations are that last year was not a blip, but the new normal for Stars soccer.
Who are some key returning players/recruits?
We have added some exciting new players to our team, but I would like to highlight our seniors – Lois Landreth, Amelia Stevens, Lexie Vernon, Olivia Wheeler, and Kailee Wisber. Not only is this a very talented group, but they are the heart and soul of our team. I am lucky to have such senior leadership in my first year, though disappointed that I won’t have them for longer.
What are you looking forward to this season?
The best part of the fall is just the rhythm of the season. Spending (almost) every day with a group of soccer-passionate people and working on our goals and improvement is fun. There will be ups and downs, but putting in the hours and getting tested on gameday is like nothing else. The journey is the destination.
Join the Stephens College Stars tomorrow for their first soccer match (home game) of the season!
at Battle High School | Saturday, August 26th, 2023 | 7pm | vs. Southwestern Christian University
