By David Boyce
MARYVILLE, Mo. - As
Marc Gordon was wrapping up a collegiate soccer career at St Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City about 30 years ago, he knew he wanted to stay in the sport as a coach.
"If you can't play, you teach," Gordon said.
Gordon did play at a high level when he was in school. He was a four-year all-conference player and made NAIA All-American honorable mention.
But like over 97 percent of NAIA and NCAA Division II soccer player, college is the last level to play the sport competitively. Time runs out as a player, he said.
"My experience in college is what grasped me that I wanted to be a collegiate coach," Gordon said. "I knew I wanted to be involved with athletics. It has always been an important part of who I am.
"I knew the value of athletics and how it guided me and the importance of how to cooperate and get along and how you have to be flexible. And through hard work, you have some successes and you learn how you rebound from some of the challenges that come about."
Gordon experienced all of that before arriving at Northwest Missouri State in mid December as the new women's soccer coach. He started the men's and women's soccer program at Bethany College in the early 1990s.
In his previous job, Gordon spent eight seasons at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan. During that time, he compiled an impressive 113-38-15 record, three KCAC regular season titles and four conference tournament titles.
After a successful stint at the NAIA level, Gordon was ready for the next level. It was one of the reason he was intrigued about becoming the new head coach at Northwest.
The MIAA currently has the reigning NCAA Division II champion in it in Central Missouri. And Northwest gets to play the Jennies early in the 2018 season.
"What a conference," Gordon said. "I know many of the coaches over the years in the recruiting process and seeing games. I know the history of the MIAA. There are no weekends off.
"I know that we will have to be prepared every weekend. I hope those experiences have guided me and helped prepare me for this conference."
And that is why Gordon has been working hard the last four months getting to know the players and for the players to adapt to him. He likes the way they are accepting a new system.
The way he describe things and the way he sees soccer are naturally going to be different from the previous coach. Rarely does two coaches do things the exact same way.
"I like their openness and willingness to try new things out," Gordon said. "And that has improved each time out."
Gordon inherited a team that is coming off a 7-10 season in which a significant number of sophomores and freshmen gained valuable playing experience. One of those players is midfielder
Izzy Romano, who earned second-team All-MIAA as a sophomore. Romano, who is from Kansas City, was also Freshman of the Year in the MIAA in 2016.
Freshman forward
Mollie Holtman made honorable mention all-conference last season. Holtman is from Maryville.
Based on his success at Ottawa and living in the Kansas City area, Gordon know the places to find student-athletes to take the Bearcats to the next level.
"I think knowing that those places are available, like Des Moines and Omaha, I know there are areas that various schools of all levels pursue," Gordon said. "I think Northwest brings a little more clout to the table for potential players. There seems to be more knowledge of the program based on the few months I have been here.
"Players have reached out to me wanting to know about the new changes coming to the program, and if they may be a possibility to be a part of the program. That has been a big indicator to me."
One of the things that attracted Gordon to Northwest is the tradition of national success, citing the football and men's basketball program as examples.
"Northwest just seemed like a good place to come and see if I can instill some of the values of the other programs and culture and see if we can reach the same pinnacle as the other programs," Gordon said.
And Gordon brings the same family values that is instilled in the Northwest athletic culture. He was fortunate that he and his wife were able to sell their home in Johnson County and buy a new home in Maryville in quick fashion.
But Gordon's family is in the transition phase of moving to a new job. While Gordon is living in Maryville, his wife, son and daughter are living in an apartment in the Kansas City area.
"I wish it was me and not them. They are the ones in an apartment and I am living in our new house," Gordon said.
His son is wrapping up his senior year at St. James Academy and his daughter is a freshmen there.
"My daughter is pretty excited about the adventure of trying something new," Gordon said. "She realizes she is going to miss St. James, but is excited about the possibility of being a Spoofhound and playing soccer at the program here."
Gordon will spend a little more time in the Kansas City area in the upcoming weeks as his son goes through senior activities at St. James, particularly graduation.
"I am very fortunate," Gordon said. "My wife has followed me around. Her profession as a nurse has allowed her that flexibility."
Gordon is looking forward to the fall. His family will be settled into the Maryville community and his team will be on the field, ready to improve on last season's 4-7 conference record.
"The ultimate test is to be able to perform against the best teams and see if you can instill and develop that same kind of energy," Gordon said.
"For the women in this program, I hope they will see that vision and believe in themselves and perform at that level."
