60 years of soccer coaching: Torch being passed at Arlington Martin, Grapevine
The high school coaching carousel is always turning. But for the first time ever, it has made a stop at the door of the Arlington Martin girls soccer coach.
Ruth Knight, who started the program in 1984, quietly announced her retirement last May, making this the first season someone else is guiding the Warriors.
About 25 miles north, at Grapevine High School, the coaching carousel will pass through the boys soccer office for the first time three decades. Heath Bullard, who took the reins of the Mustangs in 1986, has announced he will retire following this season.
Combined, the two coaches have more than 60 years of service to a sport that was fledgling at best when they assumed their posts.
It’s grown drastically. They used to just throw any coach in there they could get to take the position.
Grapevine boys coach Heath Bullard
on how the quality of soccer coaches improved“It’s grown drastically,” Bullard said. “They used to just throw any coach in there they could get to take the position. Now you’ve got a lot of coaches who have played at the high school level and some who have played at the college level. They’re coming back and taking these positions.”
“It has made an unbelievable amount of progress,” Knight said. “Especially after the Women’s World Cup in 1999. You saw it grow exponentially. From that moment forward, there were so many more girls that got involved in it.”
Neither Bullard nor Knight claims there was one specific reason for deciding to hang up their coaching shoes.
“I’m not quite sure what it was that made me go ahead and decide to get out,” Knight said.
“It’s just time,” Bullard added. “It’s time for someone new to come in and take over.”
Both admit that spending time with and caring for older parents factored into the decisions. They also both agreed on what they’ll miss most about leaving coaching behind.
“We had 53 kids show up for our alumni game this year. That’s what you miss,” said Bullard, who has a couple of former players in the U.S. professional ranks. “Some people just don’t understand how connected these kids are who play sports in high school. When you get back together 20 years from now, you don’t talk about that club game. You don’t have a club reunion. You have a high school reunion. When I get back with my guys from high school or college, you talk about those things. It’s a camaraderie that some people just don’t get.”
I can’t stay for every group of seniors, no matter how special. There’s going to be one group that I’m not there for. I think that’s the hardest part in your heart ...
Retired Arlington Martin coach Ruth Knight
on the toughest part of leaving coaching“I can’t stay for every group of seniors, no matter how special,” Knight said. “There’s going to be one group that I’m not there for. I think that’s the hardest part in your heart is that you would like to stay and see those groups you’ve been with for so long and seen come through and see them go through their senior season. But it’s just not possible.”
Knight leaves the game with 528 victories and a pair of state titles from seven state tournament appearances.
Longtime assistant coach Sabina Harrington, who served 18 years under Knight, assumed the head coaching job prior to this season. She inherits a team that had won three consecutive district titles under Knight.
“I felt good about the program going into Sabina’s hands,” Knight offered. “She’s a very capable and positive coach and a good friend.”
With Grapevine’s job not officially vacant, there’s no certainty about who will replace Bullard. But the outgoing coach is certain about one thing regarding his replacement.
I’ve invested 30 years in this program, I want somebody who comes in here and cares.
Heath Bullard
on whoever his successor will be“I’ve invested 30 years in this program, I want somebody who comes in here and cares,” he said. “I just don’t want them to throw anybody in there.”
Bullard directed the Mustangs to a state title in 1990 and two other state title-game appearances in 1992 and 1997. He can tell you that, but he can’t tell you how many games he has won.
“You have some coaches out there who can spit out their records,” he said. “Right now, I couldn’t tell you my record for anything. I think last time we checked because someone asked we were over 400 victories, so we’re probably over 500 now, but I honestly couldn’t tell you. That’s not the important part.”
I wouldn’t change a thing. I saw a great opportunity to get in on the first steps of soccer.
Ruth Knight
It’s unlikely that coaching carousel will go another 30 years before stopping at Martin or Grapevine. Much has changed about high school soccer in the last three decades, and it will all hold a special place for two of Tarrant County’s preeminent coaches in the sport.
“I wouldn’t change a thing. I saw a great opportunity to get in on the first steps of soccer. It was a grand experience for me to get in on that,” Knight said.
“It’ll hit me at the banquet, when we start talking,” Bullard said. “I know it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough to leave it, but it’s time.”
This story was originally published January 24, 2016 at 6:45 PM with the headline "60 years of soccer coaching: Torch being passed at Arlington Martin, Grapevine."