This school year, Thomas Worthington High School welcomes new men’s soccer coach, Matt Kovach, for the 2024 season. Kovach has come to the rescue and helped with the much-needed revival of the program. Previously working at Gahanna Lincoln, this is Kovachs’ 10th season as a Varsity soccer coach.
After speaking with Varsity Star, Collin Chase, students have gathered a player’s perspective on Kovach. “I really like the new coach. He has really elevated the program and pushed us closer and closer to our full potential,” says Chase. “Bringing in a new soccer coach was exactly what we needed. It was a fresh restart and it has changed the way that Thomas soccer is viewed.”
Kovach came into the program with high hopes for a winning season. He preached good behavior to his athletes on and off the field. Kovach talks highly of his athletes and ensures they have a positive perception at TWHS. “With any coaching change, there are going to be adjustments. The team has been outstanding, asking all the right questions and learning from all of the lessons they are provided,” says Kovach.
In previous seasons, the overall environment in the program was tense and negative. Since Kovach has come in, athletes now say, “All of the guys have gotten along much better and we are starting to feel like a team.” The players have stated that they feel they have bonded as a group and it has become another level of “brotherhood.”
As well as a mental and communication shift, Kovach has also benefited the soccer program in their on-field performance. In the 2023 season, TWHS men’s soccer record fell 4-13-3. However, Kovach has already shown a drastic difference as in the early 2024 season they are already 5-4-2. “Currently we are the 3rd best team in Central Ohio for Division 2,” says Chase. “We’re looking into making a deep push into the playoffs.”
It’s obvious that Kovach already has a lot of love and passion for his players. “One of the things that was most impressive with our team when I first arrived was the outstanding character of the players in our program. We have great leadership from our senior class and we have players who are hungry to win. They have been coachable and engaged from the start. There are talented soccer players here. They needed to believe in themselves.”
