When phrase acquired out that Benny Pierce, longtime soccer coach at Saratoga Excessive Faculty, had entered assisted dwelling just lately because of well being points, admirers lined as much as clarify why they rank him as a real American all-star.
Pierce, 88, is a legend at Saratoga Excessive and in highschool soccer in Santa Clara Valley. His file is 270-84-4 for 358 highschool video games in 33 seasons, together with 16 league championships, a county title and 4 Central Coast Part crowns. Pierce served as a head coach within the first Santa Clara County All Star Soccer Sport in 1974 and was head coach for the North crew within the twenty first annual Charlie Wedemeyer All Star Soccer Sport in 1995.
His curiosity in teaching started on the fields of Los Gatos Excessive Faculty, the place he was a four-sport athlete who was dedicated to apply, and the place his coach Hal Sonntag had a powerful affect on his life and was a job mannequin for Pierce’s type of teaching. Pierce nonetheless lives in Los Gatos.
Pierce got here to Saratoga Excessive as one of many college’s authentic lecturers in 1959 and coached till 1994, with just one shedding season—his first 12 months as coach. After realizing he “didn’t wish to lose,” he gained his first league championship two years later.
“I settle for shedding, however you play to win,” Pierce mentioned. “If it doesn’t trouble you while you lose a sport, there's something unsuitable.”
His 1980 crew ended the season undefeated and ranked sixth nationally. At one level, he was the winningest soccer coach in California. In his honor, the soccer discipline at Saratoga Excessive is known as Benny Pierce Subject and is a reminder of the inspiration and success he dropped at tons of of his gamers through the years.
“He was a coach who knew his soccer,” says Frank Behnke, who performed lineman for Pierce at Saratoga Excessive. “He all the time made us apply and instilled in us a way of dedication and love for the game. His halftime speeches all the time pumped us up, and we got here out to win within the second half, and we often did.”
Former Saratoga Excessive instructor and basketball coach Dan Wilson met Pierce at Los Gatos Excessive and roomed with him at San Jose State. “To Benny, soccer was greater than a sport however a lifestyle,” Wilson says. “He's one nice soccer coach, and one nice pal.”
Pierce was so effectively considered that provides to teach at increased ranges got here his approach. Longtime buddies and fellow Saratoga Excessive instructor Hugh Roberts says Pierce might have been one of many few folks to say no to Invoice Walsh.
“Benny performed soccer as quarterback at San Jose State,” Roberts says. “He threw to finish Invoice Walsh—the identical Invoice Walsh from 49er and school and professional soccer fame. They remained good buddies.
“When Invoice Walsh was the coach at Stanford, he requested Benny to return with him as an assistant coach. Benny talked it over along with his spouse Mignon, and it appears to have been a mutual choice that they merely didn't need the touring life of a school soccer coach, and positively not as an NFL coach. They made a alternative for the kind of household life they needed. Invoice Walsh instructed me that story. Benny confirmed it.”
“It was flattering at occasions to be provided alternatives,” Pierce mentioned. “However I loved highschool and loved the group.”
Pierce’s loyalty and dependability have been traits that saved him at the highschool stage all through his profession. His roots are in Los Gatos, and he has a powerful loyalty to Saratoga Excessive Faculty, his dwelling and his household.
“My Dad has all the time made me proud,” says daughter Brenda Skrabe. “He has by no means compromised his values to take the straightforward street. I can maintain my head excessive once I say he's my father.
“When (my brother) Larry and I have been younger, the one damaging facet was that we might get held up wherever we went—church, out to dinner, a sport, procuring, and so forth.—as a result of he could be acknowledged. He all the time took to the time to speak to whomever approached him and reminisce. He remembered everybody and he nonetheless does.”
His late spouse Mignon was one in all Pierce’s staunchest supporters. She was available in 2005 when Pierce was inducted into the San Jose Sports activities Corridor of fame.
“I keep in mind his speech upon acceptance into the Corridor of Fame when he mentioned how a lot he liked teaching,” longtime pal Bob Martin mentioned. “It was what he needed to do, and he thought of himself blessed that his profession was what he needed. He all the time mentioned that teaching is a superb occupation.
“It was when he talked about how fortunate he was to have his spouse and household that Benny choked up. I believe all of us within the viewers did as effectively.”
Coaches may be some of the influential figures within the lifetime of an athlete, educating life expertise, confidence, resilience, and social participation. Their affect can proceed lengthy after the season ends.
“I owe Benny Pierce lots,” says Brick McIntosh, former quarterback at each Saratoga Excessive and Cornell College. “He materially modified the trajectory of my life. As a freshman at Saratoga, he approached me in a PE class and inspired me to check out for the soccer crew…one thing I had by no means contemplated.
“After my junior 12 months he pushed me to pursue the sport in school and assisted me within the recruiting course of. That have has come again to me in lots of, many constructive methods from a profession standpoint and in life.”
McIntosh, who graduated from highschool in 1967, performed for Pierce within the early days of the coach’s profession.
“Benny was the brains behind these highly effective SHS offensive soccer groups within the mid-’60s,” he says. “Of all of the coaches I performed for in three totally different sports activities in highschool and school, there may be not a one who I revered extra, not solely as a coach however as a gentleman.”
When requested if it was all value it, Pierce’s response is an emphatic “Completely.”
“It was all the time (about) having the ability to assist younger folks turn into good folks,” says the coach. “I attempted to make them higher soccer gamers, a greater crew and perhaps higher males.”