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Sunlake Surprises

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By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 13, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Before Sam Koleduk saw any players or ran his first practice at Sunlake, his hopes for this season weren't too high.

Though he'd had success coaching boys soccer at Gulf High and Cincinnati Christian University for nine years, he expected what just about everyone expects from the athletic programs at a first-year school: a lot of youth, a lot of inexperience, and a lot of losing.

But during those early conditioning periods, Koleduk realized the team he had was different.

"A lot of kids were trying hard and busting their butts," he said. "After seeing that, I got fired up and felt we had a shot to be at least competitive."

From that point on, Koleduk was determined to keep the Seahawks working as hard, if not harder, throughout the entire year. And the players embraced his demanding coaching style, believing in themselves just as much.

Expectations grew higher when Sunlake began the district schedule by tying Wiregrass Ranch and defeating Hernando. Then it tied Springstead, one of the district's top teams, 2-2 to gain more respect, and even held top-seeded Pasco to a scoreless first half before losing.

The Seahawks stand 4-6-4 in the district, which as of Thursday, was better than established schools Zephyrhills, Nature Coast and Hernando. Not bad for a team that many thought would finish last.

"I attribute our success mostly to Coach. He gets up in our faces and gets us going," sophomore sweeper Timmy Vaughn said. "He tells us never to put our head down."

"We owe it all to this guy right here," said junior midfielder Spencer Clark, putting his arm around Koleduk after a match last week. "When we started out, we weren't a group of friends. Now we're a close-knit group."

A two-time All-American at Saint Leo University before he began coaching, Koleduk's move back to Pasco County from Cincinnati was sudden. He finished 42-5 in two years coaching at Cincinnati Christian, winning National Christian College Coach of the Year honors by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2005-06.

But there was one problem. His wife, Darinda, was still living and teaching in Pasco County while Koleduk coached in Ohio, and the family grew frustrated by the separation. Koleduk spent his summers in Florida, the fall soccer season in Ohio, and frequently commuted back-and-forth the rest of the year. Finally, after Koleduk's now 1-year-old son, Sam IV, was born, he decided to move back and return to prep and club soccer coaching.

The players respected him immediately, asking about his collegiate experience as well as their own chances to play at the next level.

Koleduk said Vaughn, who transferred from Land O' Lakes and hoped for more playing time, has become a leader and "the kind of player every coach wants on their team." Sophomore Jordan Landry (14 goals, six assists) is the squad's top scoring threat, along with Clark and sophomore Carlos Herrera. Many of the players are involved in club soccer.

As for the district tournament, Hudson coach Paul Vescio is among those who believe Sunlake could surprise, so long as they are at full strength. Of course, the Seahawks believe in themselves too.

"I tell them about when I coached the No. 5 seed at Gulf and we went all the way to the finals," Koleduk said. "Hopefully we have a chance to surprise some people. Anybody's got a chance, for sure."

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at

boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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