For 25 years, coach Chris Carson has been an integral part of the WHS soccer community. From growing up playing youth soccer in Verona, NJ, to standing on the sidelines of state championship games for Westfield, Carson has been able to share his passion with generations of the Westfield girls soccer program.
His love for soccer continued into his adulthood when his kids signed up to play soccer. Carson willingly took on the role of their coach, which led him to the WHS program. “I coached my kids, and then a friend asked me to coach the eighth-grade travel team because they needed a coach and then I got a phone call saying we needed an emergency boys JV coach. So that’s what started it,” Carson said.
After coaching boys soccer for 11 years, Carson switched to the girls where he has been coaching for 14 years. For Carson, coaching is more than just leading the team to a win. “Coaching soccer is my release, as my recreation, from a stressful occupation. You certainly get more out of it than you put into it. It’s interesting because I tell the girls the best part of my day starts at 3:30 p.m.,” Carson said.
As a volunteer coach, Carson dedicates his time to the program and has countless irreplaceable memories with the team, some of which include winning two state championships during his time coaching. Carson will never forget those exact moments. He said, “The moment of the winning goal, both were near the end of the game, eight seconds left and two minutes left. It was really special.”
Carson is an integral part of the attacking side of the team. He also plays a role in field setup and works with the girls to help them succeed. Over time, Carson has been able to find his role within the team and it has contributed to many years of success in the Westfield girls soccer program.
Senior Ashley Yenawine commented on Carson’s passion for the Blue Devils. The team has created countless memories and has established traditions with him being on the sidelines at every game. She said, “Carson does this thing where before the game, he tells the people in the shooting line who he thinks is going to score. He is usually right and the times he talks about me gives me such a boost of confidence and pushes me harder to want to go out and score and prove him right.”
A few years ago, Carson retired from his day job as the golf course superintendent at Echo Lake Country Club. “I was there for 36 years and that’s a really stressful occupation because you’re dealing with the weather, nature, members and tournaments, and one of the reasons I was able to make it all the way to age 65 to retire was because of my involvement in the soccer program,” Carson said.
The team culture created in the girls soccer program is something that Carson loves being a part of, and is one of the reasons why he continues to dedicate so much to the program. Senior Callie Schmidt recognized Carson’s commitment to the team. “He is very intelligent and offers fantastic advice to every player on the field — no matter their position,” she said. “He has come to some of my club games which was very meaningful for me. He also came to visit me after I had knee surgery this summer and it definitely brightened my mood.”
After countless after-school practices and championship runs, Carson has established a presence far greater than the wins and losses. From the bonds he’s built to the confidence he instills, Carson brings joy to every game. “It is a special group of girls,” he said. “When times are tough and we’re down two goals, that’s okay because we will find ways to win and a lot of that has to do with the team trusting each other and loving each other. So it’s cool to be a part of it.”
