by Bea Peterson
On Wednesday evening, July 30, Hoosick Falls Central School former girls soccer players, their parents and School Board members gathered in the school auditorium to honor Coach Tom Husser. The plaque presented to him by HFCS Board President Greg Laurin and Board Member John Heft listed the following statistics:
[private]• Tom Husser, HFCS Girls Soccer Coach, 2001-2014;
• Record 225-42-9; .834 W/L percentage;
• Section 2 Title – five times;
• Section 2 Finalists – Three times;
• NYS Final Four 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012;
• NYS Champions 2005, 2011, 2012;
• NYS Scholar/Athlete Team – 12 of 13 years;
• NYS Coach of the Year 2011 and 2012;
• Times Union Coach of the Year – four times;
• Troy Record Coach of the Year – five times;
• Players Gone On To Play College Soccer – 29;
• All State Players – 18;
• All Americans – 3;
• Section 2 Girls Soccer Coordinator since 2010.
Husser is the School’s Athletic Director and won’t be coaching any more.
Master of Ceremonies Patrick Dailey coached JV girls soccer for seven years and said he learned a great deal from Husser. He learned to have a positive attitude, what to ignore and what to avoid. He found that girls handled adversity better than boys and recovered quickly after a disappointment.
He said Husser has had at least 150 girls in the program in his years as Coach. First, said Dailey, he looked at the soccer program as a whole. Second, he understood the psychology of the players and the game. And third, he spent countless time and money on his players. For him it was never about the money; it was about the program.
In presenting Husser the plaque Laurin said Husser has “proven to be the best of the best.” He looks forward to what Husser will do as Athletic Director.
Helft, who is also involved with the Hoosick Soccer Program said it has been said that the program benefitted the HFCS teams. “That’s not really the case,” he said. “Husser’s success set a standard and girls aspired to be part of his team. “We had all kinds of girls in the program, and they started young.” Helft conceded, “We don’t have the top players in the U.S., but we have skilled players that live up to their potential, and that’s the mark of a good coach.
Several of Husser’s former players spoke describing how the team was a family and “Tom was a second father.”
A group of four presented a Top Ten list, something Husser always did at banquets. Their list included: 10 – Ajax, where the parents had more fun than the players; 9 – team bonding in Buffalo; 8 – the annual ice cream at the Friendly’s; 7 – team dinners at the Husser home; 6 – the bus rides with the singing and the parades; 5 – Europe and actually winning games over there; 4 – the soccer banquets and great clothing Husser always provided; 3 – the circle where before a game the players would lie on the ground, heads together and Husser would run through how the game would be played; 2 – going to States, and 1 – Husser as a coach and father figure taught them to believe in themselves.
“It was a privilege to play for you,” said one of them.
As a girl’s soccer parent Jeff Delurey spoke of meeting Husser in 2001. “We knew he was well dressed,” he said. “We knew he was a good coach; not a great coach, and, of course we parents knew best, and we told him.” Delurey went on to say that for Hoosick Falls winning a Section 2 title was the pinnacle. But, over time and beers at the Man of Kent, they came to know, love and respect Husser for the great person, friend and coach that he is. “He taught the girls so much more than soccer,” Delurey concluded. “Whenever they need a reference, Tom Husser is first on the list.”
A part of the program was a terrific video presentation put together by Gail Delurey that brought back many fond memories for everyone.
Dailey concluded the program by noting some little known statistics. Hoosick Falls is #6 in the record books for the most State Championships. Husser is the 34th most winning Coach in State history, and he is one of the top five with over 200 wins. “It has been interesting to watch a legacy being built,” he concluded.
The celebration concluded with refreshments in the cafeteria.
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