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Coaches Corner
"Assistant Coach Mark Hudson"
As this season begins, I feel it necessary to talk about my assistant coach. Mark Hudson is a 1999 graduate of Centre College. he was my first assistant coach and has been with me for five years now.
It might help to understand what Mark does for Centre soccer. His tireless effort reflects a love for Centre soccer and Centre College. Mark is paid a minimal  stipend’s wage.
Mark overlooks all of our recruiting efforts from creating our database, setting up all campus visits, and evaluation trips to Lexington, Louisville, St. Louis, Memphis, Raleigh, and Tampa/Orlando. Those are our staple showcase cities, believe me, he goes well beyond those locations when it comes to watching recruits compete.
Mark trains our team every day. We discuss topics and he designs the practice and then puts it into action with our players. Our players enjoy training under Mark. Moreover, this allows me the freedom to watch the entire group. This combination is crucial as we pick our team for each weekend. We share a very similar philosophy about training so you might think we run out of ideas. Not so. The off season is full of us calling one another with new ideas on an old concept. Mark is a genuine fan of soccer and that becomes apparent in his training ideas each year.
Mark is the first person I turn to before, during, and after games. I listen to Mark first before putting together any concepts about what needs to be discussed with the team.
Mark maintains all statistics which is a big project. The NCAA and SCAC require this information almost immediately after each game. Plus our website must be maintained with this information along with everyone’s favorite, the game write–ups.
Centre Soccer does not have a facility support staff on game day to help set everything up. Mark is the first one on site and he sets everything up for a game. He manages the officials once they arrive to the game and schedules all our ball boys. Mark is the last one to leave after a game as he breaks everything down. This is a big sacrifice, sometimes even frustrating, yet Mark is there to do it. This in turn allows me to talk with players, parents, and alumni after a game. I am sure Mark would rather switch jobs but you would never know it coming from him!
Mark brings a unique personality to our athletic department. He is well liked for obvious reasons and I am never surprised when other members of our department approach him for advice.
I could go on about the importance of Mark’s role to our program. His commitment to me and the college is unconditional.
There is no telling when Mark becomes a head coach of his own program. I would bet sooner rather than later. So when you have a moment, take a minute to thank him for everything he does for Centre soccer.
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