Greg Watts was only 14 years old when he first walked out onto a soccer field to coach. His career in coaching started with one person believing in him. Now, Watts has taken over the Grandview Boys’ Soccer Program after Brian Woods’ retirement. 

“I’ve known Coach Watts for a few years now, and he’s easy to work with. He’s super communicative, kind, and understanding,” Andrew Tolbert (SAS Coordinator) said.

Over the past 35 years, he has coached youth all the way up to professional men’s soccer. Watts aims to provide a good experience for both players and students while still competing at a high level. 

“Coach Watts has given me a lot of trust and a lot of freedom to be able to say, ‘Hey, you’ve produced really quality players, so I’m gonna trust that you do your thing and you coach the way you coach’, ’” Tolbert said. 

Watts interacts with his coaches similarly to how he interacts with his players. Watts is determined to help his players reach their individual goals, and he maps his coaching strategy based on that. 

“I think the modern player really dictates a coach that’s flexible and understands them,” Watts said. 

Watts provides time for him and his players to improve by reflecting on their training. Watts understands his players’ determination to win, and he helps them balance their mindset to help them continuously improve. 

“I missed a big opportunity, and as he came up to me after the game, he had a conversation with me and told me to flush it away and keep my head up,” Yusuf Salih (12) said.  “That’s something I really love from him as a coach.” 

Even with his understanding of players’ mentalities, he keeps his standards and expectations high for the players to meet their goals as individuals and as a team. 

“Ultimately, we want to play 20 more games and bring another title to Grandview High School,” Watts said. 

To bring Grandview a title, the players and the coach both have to collaborate, meet in the middle, and work together. 

“It’s focusing on the task at hand and trying to create consistency from one day to another,” Watts said. 

Not only does Watts want consistency, but he also wants to create an environment where success can be produced from his coaches and players feeding off each other.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Callie Lyn-Kew

Number 1 Keeper Camden Kuhn dives for a shot hit into the far side of the net, as Valor ties the game 1-1 with 7 minutes left in the first half.

“This season can be a roller coaster, but we have high expectations and we hope to hold each other accountable,” Watts said.

With a new coach, there is a certain uncertainty in the players. Watts helped to counteract this reaction from the team during the transition.  The changes Watts brought to the team were not limited to a change in mindset, but also included the challenge of individual players adjusting to changes in their roles on the team. 

On Saturday, the 20th of September, Senior Kason Ottinger scored the winning goal for Grandview in their 1-0 victory against Overland.

“This year, I feel like the team is a little more reliant on me to score,” Ottinger said.

Ottinger is not the only player who feels his role in the team has shifted, but by working together, Watts and his players have found understanding between one another.

“I’m not playing my current position now, and that’s something I always leave up to the coach, whatever he thinks fits better for me as a player,” Salih said. “That’s a big part of him as a coach, knowing his players.” 

Not only have the players adjusted to new positions on the field, but they have had to adapt to the strategies Watts employs.

“The rules are different. It’s a different system,” Andrew Campbell (11) said. “We’re playing different positions and tactics like how you play out from the back.” 

Watts has made some changes during the transition, such as a change in the lineup. Instead of playing with three defenders and two forwards, a 3-5-2 formation, they play with four defenders and one striker, a 4-3-3 formation. This lineup helps the plays be more concentrated on the defense and less concentrated in the midfield than the style played last year. 

“We’re going to try to put the pieces together that give us the best chance to be successful,” Watts said.

Watts helps the players get to be who they want as players; he yearns for their passion and helps them inspire their true selves. The end result of this transition between coaches remains unchanged: go out and bring more wins to Grandview. 

“The kids are hungry. They want to improve,” Watts said. “I just love the passion that they have.”