After playing with the CHS boys soccer team last year, alumni Jason Umansky and Paymon Minaie hope to continue their CHS legacies by coaching boys soccer at CHS. Former two-year varsity player Umansky and former one-year varsity player Minaie both graduated from CHS last year and decided to come back to help coach the boys soccer teams to another successful season. Minaie is the assistant coach for the Freshman/Sophomore soccer team, and Umansky is an assistant coach for the JV team. Both Umansky and Minaie became coaches to continue their passion for soccer, and they both hope to pursue this coaching position long into the future.

“I always wanted to be a coach. I knew one day my soccer playing days would be over, so this was the logical next step to staying in the game,” Umansky said.

Umansky and Minaie make effective coaches because they have both been through the CHS boys soccer program before. This helps the two already understand how the organization and its practices are preferred by the coaches, providing them an edge as coaches.

“I think they are great. They are both enthusiastic about being out here,” Eddie Flores, head coach of JV boy’s soccer said. “They both know the rules and what we expect, so it is not difficult for them to adjust to the setting.”

Umansky and Minaie’s favorite part of coaching is bonding with players and watching them grow and develop. Although coaching is a fun change of pace for Minaie, at times he is nostalgic for his CHS soccer playing days. Minaie‘s favorite aspect of soccer is the competition that playing the game gives him. Umansky, on the other hand, likes coaching as well as playing soccer for his college, University of La Verne, equally.

“I don’t think I have a favorite when it comes to coaching or playing because they are two very different experiences,” Umansky said. “I love playing at University of La Verne because I like the competition. On the other hand, when it comes to coaching I really enjoy the tactical side of the game, like trying to figure out a team’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Even though both Umansky and Minaie graduated from CHS and currently play for their college team, they are continuing to coach CHS because of their passion for soccer. The boys soccer team at CHS hopes that Umansky and Minaie’s involvement will help the teams reach new heights. With their knowledge in the sport and their experience they had at CHS, they are both exemplifying Pack Pride that extends beyond the four years of high school by becoming new coaches for the boys soccer team at CHS.