Westminster College Men’s Soccer – Coach Brian O’Connor

In today’s episode, I speak with Coach Brian from the Westminster Men’s Program in Missouri. We talk about how he values communication and versatility in a recruit. Coach also shares about high academics plus small, gorgeous campus. Plus, we discuss their atmosphere of honesty and good communication focusing on problem solving. Learn more about Westminster College Men’s Soccer.

Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today I am lucky enough to be joined by Coach O’Connor over at Westminster in Missouri. Welcome coach. 

Coach: Thank you. Excited to be here. Appreciate it. 

Matt: Yeah. Excited to talk to you here. We’re, uh, just a week into the new year. Uh, so this time of year kind of, are you still.

Closing out the class at 26? Uh, or is that done? And you’re looking at 20 sevens, kind of what’s your timeline, uh, when it comes to, to building that roster right now? 

Coach: Yeah, I mean, we’re three fourth of the way done, I would say. Um, it’s kind of getting towards decision time now. So, um, ideally I’d like to have as much of the class wrapped up as possible, um, at the beginning of February, by mid-February.

So it’s kind of when the next. Recruiting cycle kicks off all the showcases and everything, so we’re already kind of been into it, but, um, kind of like to turn our full attention to it 

Matt: [00:01:00] around them. Okay. Um, so when it comes to showcases and, and whatnot, kinda what are the, the must hit venues that, that are on your, your calendar every year?

Coach: Yeah, I mean, we, uh, we hit. Missouri, the, the high 70 corridor, pretty hard. Um, St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, um, all got really good soccer, but we’re around the entire Midwest circuit. Uh, we’ll be in Chicago, we’ll be in Memphis, um, be in Lexington. Um, so when we get to see a bunch of the, the team from East Coast a lot in the Mid-Atlantic, we’ll be at those.

So, um, that’s usually kind of the circle we run. 

Matt: Okay. Um, do you, um. Do you guys do your own ID camps or your staff work ID camps? Are they part of your recruiting process? 

Coach: Yeah, so we, we don’t, we usually work other ID camps, um, St. Louis area, usually pretty. Pretty populated with ID camps. So, um, we’ll be around Missouri, um, Missouri and Illinois ID camps for the most part.

Matt: Okay. So whether you’re at a [00:02:00] showcase or an ID camp, kinda what makes up that hierarchy of things you’re looking for in a player both on and off the field? 

Coach: Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, being a D three, um, academic scholarship is, is, is a big deal. Um, so, you know, looking at, at the pamphlet, you know, what’s a GPA, um, is the, is the first, first thing you look at.

Um, and then. On the field, soccer stuff. Uh, two big things for me are communication. How to communicate with the teammates, how to communicate with the coaches, um, and versatility. Um, there’s so many players who play a certain position in high school, um, and then get to college and, and then transition to a different position.

So, um, showing that you’re able to play, uh, multiple positions is, is, is a big one for me. That makes sense. 

Matt: Now is high school soccer. A thing, do you see it? Do you watch it? Do you care? People always kind of ask that question of, of its importance these days. 

Coach: Yeah, I mean, absolutely. Um, you know, st.

Especially St. Louis High School [00:03:00] soccer is, is a very, very big deal. Um, so I get out as much as I can. Um, you know, we’re pretty busy during that time. I play in the fall, so, um, I don’t get out too much. Um, but I try and get out as much as I can. And the big, the big difference is, um, with the high school soccer is.

How do you deal with pressure? A little bit, especially in the St. Louis area being a big deal. Club’s a little more relaxed at times. Um, so, um, how do you, how do you deal with, with the big stage and, um, that’s where I kind of get from, from St. Louis in the high school. The high school ranks. 

Matt: Okay. That makes sense.

Well, you know, we, we’ve, well, like I say, you and I are talking here early January and, and all the news about the, the college football transfer portal is craziness. And, uh, the soccer thing is just as crazy. But, uh, do you guys look at the portal at all? Is that, is that a thing that you’re looking at it or, or are transfers a thing for you guys at all?

Coach: Yeah, yeah, we usually bring [00:04:00] in, um, two, three transfers a year. Um, this past, the past, since I’ve been here, we’ve usually brought in one or two transfers at semester. Um. And then one or two transfers in the summer. So ideally we’d like to do our transfers if we can, um, in that January window, um, and get ’em integrated into the school and give ’em a spring season, um, you know, with the rest of the boys.

Um, get ’em ready to go for fall. But, um, yeah, we do look at that. So, um, changing times, but, uh, trying to keep up with it as best we can. 

Matt: Well, and, and another big thing, especially on the men’s side, not as much at D three, but is international players. Are you guys recruiting internationally? Do you have a big international presence at Westminster, or not so much?

Coach: So I, not so much. I mean, it’s something we’re working, um, kind of working to build a little bit, um. Some of the previous schools I’ve been at, I’ve been pretty heavy international, so it’s something I, I’m familiar with. Um, so it’s, it’s one of the things the school’s working to kind of kind of increase. So I’ve done it a lot [00:05:00] before, so I know big market for pretty competitive.

Um, but, uh, but yeah, I mean it’s, we have, we have a couple in, um, on the team, on the team now. Um, two from Australia, one from New New Zealand. So, um, it’s something we’ll, we’ll continue to kind of, to kind of ramp up. Um. As it gets implemented at the school. 

Matt: Yeah. Okay. Well, what, what is like a roster size that you find is ideal that you guys are trying to hit each season?

Coach: Yeah, so we’ll be between 35 and 40. Um, so I mean the college, the college schedule, um, not necessarily conducive, keeping you healthy, uh, um. So, uh, you know, we try and get a good, healthy roster. Um, so kind of next man up mentality. Um, we will, um, something, we’re gonna, something new we’re gonna do. We’re gonna have, uh, reserve games.

We’re not gonna have a reserve team. Um, you know, we’re all trained, we’re all one program. Um, but for, you know, guys that need development or guys coming off injuries or, you know, we’ll have [00:06:00] those, we’ll have those between four to six games a year. Um, try and get it once a week if we can. Um. To get ’em prepared.

The best way to develop in college soccer is to play college soccer. So, um, that’s something that, that we’ll do as well with kind of a, a high roster number. Okay. Alright. 

Matt: Well, let’s talk a little bit more about the school, uh, you know, Westminster in Fulton. Kind of what do you find is, is awesome about the school?

Maybe some things we wouldn’t even know by going through the website. 

Coach: Yeah, I mean the big thing is the campus is gorgeous. Against Westminster, but never actually been on campus. So, um, the campus itself is, is, is gorgeous. Um, and, you know, the high academics, obviously you choose a place like Westminster for, for what it can do for you after co after college.

So, um, they got a great, um, they got a great career services and the placement after you leave here is, it’s, it’s fantastic. Um, and the other thing is it’s a smaller campus. We’re, we’re about 700. Um, but it’s a very active campus. [00:07:00] Um, almost everybody lives on campus, so, um, we haven’t had an issue with, with people transferring or anything like that, or retention, especially the soccer program’s been really good.

So, um, it’s a pretty lively campus and there’s, there’s a little bit something for everybody to keep you busy, you know, out outside of soccer. 

Matt: That’s awesome. Well. Like you said, high academics. One of the biggest challenges a lot of times for student athletes is making that leap of the demands that are put on you, especially in that fall, right?

You’re just starting and, and man, I’m, I’m playing college soccer. My, my schedule’s crazy, but the classes are hard. So kind of how, how do your students really balance the demands both in the classroom and and outside and, and what support systems does a school offer to help them be successful? 

Coach: Yeah, so we, uh.

I know I’m a very big believer in, in good habits on the field, lead off the field, and, you know, vice versa. So, uh, we kind of view the off the field, the academics, and on the field all, all is one thing. Um, [00:08:00] so one of the things we do, I, as much time as I take away, I try and give back as much as I can. Um, so we’ll do.

Study halls pretty much every day. Um, we’re not playing, um, or we’re unless we’re off, but, um, so it’s about four or five times a week. Um, we got an hour, hour and a half study hall. Um, and with that there’s, you know, tutors for, for each class. Um, we do the study hall in the library. So you have the writing center right down the hall, um, and then all the tutoring in there.

Um, and then Westminster does a really good job with athletics, um, in terms of. Academic management. So there’s a lot of resources at, at the academic center. Um, you know, if a guy needs help, there’s one-on-one help available for him. So, um, and the biggest thing is it’s a lot of, it’s a cultural thing. Like the team had a 3.4 team GPA last year, so, um, you know, as much as, you know, I could talk to him blue in the face.

But, um, you know, the captains do a great job. The leaders do a great job and, um, everybody’s just kind of bought in, bought into it. So, um, coming here, the culture’s a really good culture to [00:09:00] step into. 

Matt: Uh, that’s good. All right. Well rewind me back to, say mid-October, heart of that conference season. Walk me through what’s a typical week look like from meals to classes, to practices, game cadence, all that stuff.

Coach: Sure. So typically the game cadence is typically Wednesday, Sunday, or Wednesday, Saturday, excuse me, Wednesday, Saturday. Um, so Sunday’s, Sunday’s usually the day off. Um, and then Mondays is. The big, the big prep day, the one day where you can kind of put a little bit on their legs in training, um, and get a, get after it a little bit.

Um, so we’ll do, we’ll do study hall and film, um, usually between four and six. Um, go eat, hit, hit, hit the session, um, at about seven, um, and then Tuesday. Study hall film again. Um, and then it’s more of a walkthrough, um, walkthrough set pieces, things like that. Um, you know, Wednesday game, uh, Thursday, uh, recovery session, [00:10:00] but film went to the next, onto the next game on Saturday.

Um, so Thursday film, uh, film walk, walkthrough recovery, um, Friday study, all film walkthrough Saturday games. So, um, it’s extremely tactical. Uh, you know, there’s a lot. A lot on the brain. Um, you know, getting to prepare 2, 3, 2, 3 days for a game, especially a conference game, um, you know, and academics as well.

But, um, you know, that’s, that, that’s how we have to do it. So, and luckily, um, like I said, the guys good culture here, so the guys, the seniors, the juniors, um, have been with me a couple years now. So, um, you know, they know the rhythm and the cadence I want, and, you know, we’re able to, we’re able to do pretty well this year.

So, um, that’s how, that’s, that’s how we attack it. 

Matt: All right, great. Well, let’s talk about the team a bit. I mean, you mentioned roster size, but talk to us about the other parts of the roster, your assistant coaches. What other staff are there helping out and, and what are their roles there? [00:11:00] 

Coach: Yeah, so we have, uh, we have one full-time, time assistant.

Uh, coach Sanchez actually played for me, um, way back when. So, um, he’s full-time. Um, very lucky to have him. Does a, does a great job. Um. And a part-time assistant, uh, coach Brandon Russell, coach b backbone of the program. I think he’s been here 10 years. Um, so, um, and then one of the great things about Westman is the athletic support that we get.

So we have an AT that’s pretty much specifically for soccer. Um, so we have an at, keeps us taped together towards, towards the end of the year. So, um, and then we have, you know, all the academic, academic help as well from the academic center. So, um. Pretty good with staff, you know, a lot to tackle, running the college program, you know, recruiting, retention, game planning, all that.

So, um, we, we got a lot of help, especially, you know, with a sizeable roster, so, um, pretty lucky with that. 

Matt: Yeah. Okay. What about you? Talk to us about your coaching style and the style of play you look to play there. 

Coach: Yeah, so I mean, uh, I. [00:12:00] The base thing, the big pillar for me in coaching is, uh, communication.

Um, everything I do is predicated off, off, off good communication. So, um, you know, some, some would say I’m, I like to say I’m refreshingly honest. Um, you know, I think it’s good to create that atmosphere. So, um, I’m, I’m, I’m pretty demanding. I want things done a certain way. Um, you know, and I’ll let you know, um, with that being said, kind of my approach to the game, um, in terms of formations and, you know, in the era of.

System play, um, play. I’m not really ideologically tied to, to any certain formation, so I’m very personnel driven. Um, in terms of, in terms of what we do on the formation side of things. Um, but ultimately I view, I’ve used soccer, the game’s about problem solving. So, um, how do you problem solve? How do you adapt?

So all the training we do, um, will be geared towards recognizing situations, diagnosing situations, and, and finding the right answer. Um, you know, in soccer there’s usually. 10, [00:13:00] 12 right answers and a million wrong answers. So, um, giving those guys the freedom to kind of, you know, express themselves and play.

So when giving them the, uh, the, uh, the ability to diagnose those situations. So, um, I haven’t put the football in 15 years, so, um, you know, when they’re on the ball, you know, fit the DecisionMaker. So everything we do in training is geared, geared towards that. 

Matt: Oh, I love that. All right, well, like I said, it’s January.

It’s the non-traditional season now that second semester. Talk to us about what you generally do during that spring, uh, timeframe. 

Coach: Yeah, so, uh, we typically don’t start practice practice, um, until until march. Uh, we have a certain amount of days and I like to get in a pretty good rhythm leading up to the, to the summer break.

So, um, but for now, when the, the boys are getting ready to get back next week, um. So Westminster’s got a full strength conditioning staff. Um, so they’ll be, they’ll be with them typically three days a week, um, three days a week as a, as [00:14:00] a team in the weight room. Um, and then, you know, they’ll, they’ll do all the, the exciting stuff they do in the off season.

They’ll get together and they’ll do the 60 sixes and 70 sevens when, you know, they should be doing technical work, in my opinion. But, you know, uh, you know, they’ll be plenty busy. Um, and then once, once March hits we’re. Practic in full again. Um, and my approach, my approach to, to the spring, um, is it’s a one time I can kind of do technical stuff.

Um, you know, during the year it’s all tactical. Um, so really, really pushing that, that technical angle. Um, and then, you know, we will. I wanna make sure they’re fit going into, uh, going into the summer. So I wanna make sure they got a good running start in terms of, you know, the weight room and the fitness, um, going into the summer.

So a lot of what the, the spring is, is a lot of technical work, you know, individual improvements, um, and getting, getting the body ready, um, for the fall. All right. 

Matt: Well, coach, you’ve given us some great insights here. Gonna leave you with [00:15:00] one last question, and that is, if you had, you know, one piece of advice for anybody going through this college recruiting process right now, what would that be?

Coach: My, my biggest thing is more, the more information you have, the better. Um, so obviously, you know, everybody wants to go, go D one, you know, I was the same way. Um, but I would say make, make your search as wide as possible. Um, you know, start early as much you can gather information and um, you know, look at what each program and how it’s supported.

So that would be, that would be my big, my big, uh, my big piece of advice. 

Matt: Absolutely. Well, coach, really appreciate it. Wish you the best of luck, uh, into your spring recruiting and spring season. And, uh, if you get down to any of the events here in Bradenton, uh, make sure you gimme a shout. All right, will do.

Coach: I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. 

Matt: Yep. Thank you.