The Wilbraham & Monson Academy Boys' Varsity Soccer team is replacing one great coach with another.
Mike Rouette, who has ties to the Academy, was hired in late January to take over for Coach Gary Cook, who stepped down after serving as Head Coach for 35 seasons at WMA.
"I'm ecstatic and I'm excited," Coach Rouette said. "I hope to bring in area talent, whether it's kids right from this area, northern Connecticut, the Berkshires or up north. I want to bring in individuals who are great soccer players and great student-athletes."
Coach Rouette is already familiar not only with the program, but with the ins and outs of life at the Academy. His oldest son, Mick '14, played soccer for the Titans during a post-graduate year, and his youngest son, Macauley '18, is currently on the team.
WMA Athletic Director Don Nicholson '79 and Coach Cook were thrilled Coach Rouette was interested in applying for the vacant position.
"During the interview process, I found Mike to be a man with a strong vision for young student-athletes and I know this vision will allow our program to sustain the great coaching legacy of our current coach, Gary Cook, as he retires from the sidelines," Mr. Nicholson said. "Gary's career will certainly be long revered within the history of our WMA athletic program. We know Mike will carry on Gary's strong soccer tradition and we look forward to him joining our WMA community as our new head coach."
"I think it's fantastic," Coach Cook added. "I think he's a wonderful choice for a variety of reasons. He's a proven, successful coach, at both the club and high school level, winning a state championship at Monson. The prep game will be an adjustment but he will make it. He's been successful in a high school setting. He understands the value of high school sports, and more importantly the value of high school sports in academics. He knows us already and the players know him. The fact that his oldest son is a graduate and his youngest son is here, he knows the Academy. I just hope he gets to 100 wins faster than I did."
After starring at Monson High School, Coach Rouette played four seasons at Division I Old Dominion University. He then played at the semi-pro level for three seasons before he began his remarkable coaching career at the youth and high school level. His club teams earned #1 rankings in the state, and also garnered national attention. One of his teams was invited to play in the national championship. During his two years at Monson High School, his teams won a regional title twice and a state crown once.
As impressive as he has been with players on the field, he's been equally remarkable with the players off the pitch. At Monson High School, 90% of his players made the honor roll. During his 10 years as a club coach, 80% of the players pursued a college education.
"You can't do anything without a great education," Coach Rouette said. "It's about grades first. That's something I put right out there to the student-athletes. I put that out there so the student-athlete knows that and the parents know."
Coach Cook retired from coaching Dec. 17 after being involved in boys' soccer for 40 years, with the last 37 at the Academy.