Sachse, Texas
Campbell takes Lady Mustangs’ reins
Former NF player excited about chance to coach
By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
gford@wylienews.com
SACHSE (June 26, 2008) - Kristen Campbell has played soccer since she was 3.
Her time on the field included stints at Na-aman Fo-rest, the University of North Texas and currently during the summer with a Fort Worth-based team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League.
However, the one thing Campbell really wanted to do was pass on her knowledge and experience to younger players. In others words, she wanted to coach.
That opportunity presented itself this spring, when Sachse began pursuing a new head coach for girls’ soccer.
“I knew Sachse was a really good school and has a good soccer program, from what I heard about it, and it seemed like a really good fit for me. I really wanted to pursue that,” said Campbell, 23.
After several interviews with school officials, she was hired to lead the Lady Mustangs. Campbell also will teach a business class at the high school. She taught at Sam Houston Middle School during 2007-’08.
Campbell takes the reins from Kelan Brill, who stepped down after two years.
Under Brill, Sachse made the 2006 playoffs but missed out last season. However, they finished strong in district competition and should return a number of players.
The first-year coach said a main priority will be establishing a “team” atmosphere.
“(The) girls have basically played for years leading up to varsity, so I would emphasize team playing. There is room for everyone on the team, and everyone is equal. (I really want to) focus on playing as a team and formations,” she said.
The coach added, “I think discipline is going to be one of the (top) things, especially for my first year.”
Although she didn’t attend Sachse, Campbell has ties to the school.
Her brother Russell, a baseball player, and sister Randi, a volleyball player and cheerleader, were members of Sachse’s charter class.
Campbell said she’d have considered attending had she'd been offered the chance.
As it was, Campbell went to Naaman Forest from 2000-2003, where she played forward for the Lady Rangers.
At North Texas, she moved to left outside midfield.
She graduated a couple of years ago and now finds herself coaching girls just a few years younger than herself.
“I would hope that coachingwise it would help. I’m going to have to establish that I’m the coach and they’re the players,” Campbell said.
Another thing she wants to “establish” is an attacking mind set.
“I’m definitely offensive (minded). I think having good offense is the best defense,” Campbell said.
Today’s game, she said, emphasizes formations and knowledge of the sport, perhaps even more so than when Campbell played in high school.
Both will be vital in North Texas high school soccer, which currently fields an excellent crop of programs.
Two of them, Plano East and Southlake Carroll, were the 2008 Class 5A state finalists.
“North Texas is one of the best areas for soccer, hands down,” Campbell said. “Schools from all over the place come here for tournaments. Soccer is huge here.”
