Moving From the Sidelines to the Stands

In five years of coaching the Forest Grove boys soccer team, Coach Angelo Simonetti led his Vikings to a 40-30-11 record, four playoff appearances and the state quarterfinals in 2012. He hung up his whistle at the end of last season after his team had yet again qualified for the Class 6A playoffs. But he’s not leaving Forest Grove student-athletes in the lurch: He just needed more time to cheer his own three children on as they compete.

Simonetti has a 10-year-old son who plays football and basketball, a 12-year-old daughter whom he is readying for high school volleyball in two years, and an older son who as captain of the Tigard High School soccer team led his squad, the Tigers, to the state playoffs his senior year. In fact, the Vikings beat the Tigers narrowly, 3-2, in what turned out to be the final season for both the father and son.

But as the coach told The Oregonian last fall, “I’m going to be there and watch games and always cheer for the kids. Forest Grove is my family. You don’t have an ex-family.”

Vikings athletic director Doug Thompson was clear about his requirements for Simonetti’s replacement.

“I really need the next coach to understand that it’s not just about winning soccer games, it’s about developing kids and making sure they graduate and making sure they’re making a positive contribution in the community. We really had a change during his tenure with that,” said Thompson.

The new coach will have big shoes to fill. Thanks for setting the pace, Coach Simonetti, as a role model and a fan!

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