If you’ve ever played a sport, you may have dealt with coaching changes. After years with a particular coach, your team must learn to adjust to a new one. This was the exact predicament Naperville North varsity goalkeeper, Christian Robert, found himself in. Robert originally played on the varsity soccer team when the current head coach, Jim Konrad, had two titles– head coach and NNHS athletic director.

Once Robert entered his junior season, District 203 decided serving as both an athletic director and a head coach posed a conflict of interests. Konrad was forced to pick between the two. At first, he picked athletic director and asked the girls varsity soccer head coach, Steve Goletz, to step in his place. Although Robert appreciates both coaches, he found Konrad’s return an exciting prospect.

“I’ve been with Coach Konrad for three years, and he’s really good with the guys,” Robert said. “He knows how to push us at the right times, and he knows when we need positive motivation and when we need criticism. I definitely think Konrad knows what he is doing in the coaching role.”

Last year, Konrad again needed to decide between the coaching job he had enjoyed for years and the prestigious position of athletic director. But this time, he picked coach. Many people questioned why he would give up such an important position to be a coach and dean, but Konrad said he feels confident and comfortable with his decision.

“There’s something incredibly satisfying about working with high school kids in an enviorment like the soccer program,” Konrad said. “It’s about seeing kids grow and experiencing some of the most meaningful moments of their life with them.”

Konrad said that being athletic director limited his ability to interact with the student athletes. This served as a driving factor behind his decision to step down as athletic director.

“Seeing them develop as people is really neat, especially with being part of a four year program where you see kids come in as freshmen,” Konrad said. “There’s something really special about that positive interaction with kids on a playing field.”

Athletes from the boys varsity soccer team were happy that Konrad decided to make his return this year, especially senior and four-year varsity soccer player Chris Ensign. He benefits from Konrad’s particular coaching style.

“Konrad really tends to look at the positives,” Ensign said.

Konrad said that there wasn’t much he needed to change or fix after Goletz took over last season. Konrad said their similar coaching styles allowed for the seamless transition.

“We are very like-minded and coach in similar ways,” Konrad said. “We really do treat each other as co-head coaches. Even with the girls program, we watch the games and talk about [the girl’s soccer team] all the time. We just have a really good relationship.”

Upon Konrad’s return, the team has been doing well. Their record is 4-3-1 and 0-0-1, DuPage Valley Conference. Ensign said they have things that they have to work on, but the team continues to steadily improve.

“Our overall goal is to win conference,” Ensign said. “We have a very good chance at that, and our overall target is to win sectionals and get to super-sectionals. The biggest question for us is who is going to score all the goals.”