Hauck Steps In: “We’re Going to Be Ready to Win”

Republic has hired Kevin Hauck as its girls head soccer coach. Hauck comes to Republic from Carl Junction, where he started the girls soccer program as a new coach seven years ago. Despite going winless in the program’s first year, he compiled an overall record of 88-52-2 at Carl Junction, including a 23-3 season in 2014.

“It was kind of a good fit because it was my first time being a head coach and their first time having a (girls) soccer team,” Hauck says. “I feel like we just slowly grew. I knew we weren’t going to go in and win right off, but I knew we could down the line, so we stuck with certain things, and learning the game, and slowly we got there.”

Hauck replaces Mike Hines, who had been the girls soccer coach in Republic since the program’s inception five years ago. Hauck says he knows he’ll do some things differently, but he doesn’t anticipate a big shakeup in the program.

“I feel like Mike (Hines) and I are a lot alike. We seem like we are kind of on the same page in what we do with our team and how we treat them, and wanting to build those relationships with them,” Hauck says. “Not every coach is the exact same, but hopefully they’re going to trust me, I’m going to trust them, hear them, and hear what they have to say. We’re going to work together and have some compromises.”

“It’s not like we’re re-building anything. I’m hoping to come in and keep it going,” he says. “I’m hoping to motivate them to be excited for the new season. We’re going to be ready to win. We’re going to work hard and have a lot of energy. Hopefully they’ll buy in and get on board with it.”

Kevin Hauck and his wife, , enjoy Carl Junction's 2015 district championship.
Kevin Hauck and his wife, Sarah, enjoy Carl Junction’s 2015 district championship.

The transition to Republic is even more interesting because the Lady Tigers have been a heated rival of Carl Junction for the past several seasons–perhaps even more than Carl Junction’s traditional sports rival, Webb City.

“We have had some really good battles. Republic and Carl has become a good rivalry. I feel like both teams have grown so much since the start,” Hauck says. “It was difficult to tell the girls that I was leaving them to go to Republic.  Whenever I said Republic, I think it might have hurt them more, because they think Republic is more of a rival than Webb City.”

Hauck says he enjoyed coaching in Carl Junction, and didn’t want to leave for “just any job.” Moving to Republic puts he and his wife closer to family.

“We’ve heard such good things about Republic and the school district,” he says. “When the opportunity arose, we felt like it was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Beyond wins and losses, Hauck says he wants outsiders to respect the Lady Tigers for how they carry themselves.

“I want us to conduct ourselves in a good way, (so when) refs and coaches and fans see us, they know that they’re going to get a good quality team, we’re going to trust each other, and we’re going to set examples for the younger generation. On the soccer field, I want them to be honest, to work hard, to carry themselves well and represent not just our team but the school as well.”

Off the field, Hauck says, “I want my players to succeed in the classroom along with on the field. I don’t want soccer to be everything to them. I feel like there’s so much more to life than soccer.”

Hauck plans an informational meeting for players at 2 pm on Tuesday, June 23, in room 242 at Republic High School.

“(I’ll) introduce myself, put a face with the name, talk about what I expect, what we’re going to do, and kind of get to know them a little bit so they can settle in,” he says. “I know it’s a hard thing.”

Hauck also plans to get to know the players better during their scheduled summer camp in July.

“I think that’s important, especially coming in as a new coach. You want the girls to trust you and get to know you as quickly as possible,” he says. “That’s important, and that’s what I want to establish right off. Hopefully we can have good relationships right out of the gate.”

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