Coach Mike Freitag soccer career spans 21 years at Indiana University. He has played the role of a player, graduate assistant coach, and full assistant coach and is currently the head coach for the program. Freitag is one of only handful of coaches to capture an NCAA National Championship in his first year as a head coach. Mike has also played professional soccer and worked as an assistant coach for the U 17 National Team and Director of Coaching for the Colorado State Youth Soccer Association.
Interview by PSG International, Nick Roberts.
1. PSG International: Indiana is always a team that is expected to challenge for a national title how is the outlook for 2007 and who are going to be your key players?
Mike Freitag I am excited for the 2007 season to begin. I believe we have the talent to contend but it will all depend how we come together as a team. The 2006 team found ways to win and that is what I expect from this squad. I have a number of players who will play key roles for us. Brad Ring, Charlie Traylor, Eric Alexander, and Brian Ackley are to name a few.
2. PSG International: Many players have gone on from Indiana and played professional soccer and had successful careers. (6 players alone from the 2005 graduating class) Should collegiate soccer be responsible for the development of professional players?
Mike Freitag I don’t think it is my responsibility to produce pro players. I feel it is my responsibility to develop my players to there potential during the time and under the restrictions put forth by the NCAA. If the pros like what they see and a player signs a pro contract then it is a feather in our programs hat. We currently have 13 players under MLS contracts.
3. PSG International: It is clear the standard of collegiate soccer has improved vastly over the past 20 years. One could conclude that a number of top level division 1 teams could compete at the lower (if not higher in some countries) professional levels. Therefore is the collegiate season too short and while programs such as IU have a history of developing professional players are these players limited because of the structure of college soccer.
Mike Freitag There is no doubt that there is limitations to player development while attending college and rightfully so. A student-athlete is preparing for a profession after soccer but also hopes to have his day in the sun as a pro soccer player. I think college soccer is a good avenue for talented players at this time until the professional ranks offer more and better opportunities.
4. PSG International: Most coaches who become head coaches look at a long term plan into building the team into a contender to win championships. The IU program won a national title in your first year as head coach. That’s quite a start. What did you feel at that time and what is your outlook on the future of the program in terms of the continuing challenge to repeat that goal.
Mike Freitag There was a great feeling of satisfaction and relief in winning the 2004 championship. IU Soccer is my love. I have reaped the rewards of being a part of this program as a player and it has always been my goal to continue the ‘tradition of excellence’ that my mentor Jerry Yeagley established. I was so happy that we could win it in my first year because I wanted to make Yeags proud along with all the alums who have put their heart and soul into making IU Soccer what it is today. The future looks bright as long as we continue the winning formula that has worked for 34 years – great staff, talented players, high standards, and a work ethic second to none. If we do that, along with a little luck, I think goods things will be in IU Soccer’s future.
5. PSG International: You have for the most part been involved with the IU soccer program for the past 21 years. You worked for many years under Jerry Yeagley. Being an assistant coach always brings as set of challenges especially if the position is long term. It must have been a great learning environment in the manner in which Yeagley built the program over the years. But from being an assistant coach what were the challenges that you faced in being assistant coach for that length of time?
Mike Freitag I believe I was a good assistant but that doesn’t always equate into success as a head coach. As an assistant you follow the lead of the head coach and give your opinion but the final say is always the head coaches. That is the big difference, the fact that you have the final say. In being the assistant for so long it was a change that I had to get used to in making all the decisions. One important thing I learned from Coach Yeagley is to surround yourself with good people and I am happy to say that I have the best staff in the country. Todd Yeagley, Phil Presser, and Juergen Sommer are great assistants and great sounding boards. I rely on their input before I make that final decision.
6. PSG International: You have had some temporary assignments over the years with The U 17 National team and with USYSA in Colorado. You went back at Indiana. Was it important for you to at least for some period of time during those years to spend time away from IU. If so, why and what did you learn from those years?
Mike Freitag It is important for coaches especially young coaches to learn from other coaches and gain from different learning experiences. I was the Director of Coaching for the Colorado State Youth Soccer Association for seven years and during that time I grew as a coach. I met many coaches and had great coaching experiences during that time. My experience as the assistant coach with the U-17 National team was very rewarding, especially learning under head coach Roy Rees. My advise to young coaches is to go out and steal ideas from other coaches and then go out and coach and develop them into your style of coaching.
7. PSG International: As well as time spent working with the U 17 National Team program and USYSA, you have like most coaches worked in the youth game, coaching teams etc. What do you feel at the major issues facing the youth game, specifically the club system at the higher levels who are seeking to get players into the high level college programs?
Mike Freitag People need to slow down and let the game develop players. We as coaches are trying to force development. It is funny how kids in developing nations where there is little coaching seem to learn the game. I think players are playing too many games and need to train more. Players need to become more technical and that means time with the ball not just games. Club coaches and parents need to forget about scholarships and worry about development. The scholarships will come to those who develop the ability to play.
8. PSG International: What system of play will Indiana play this year? Is there a tradition of a certain style of play at Indiana or a ‘way’ you feel the game should be played?
Mike Freitag In recent years the 3-5-2 system has been good to us because we had the players to it. We are not set in stone with a system but like the 3-5-2 because it gets us numbers in midfield where I think the game is won. Our players will determine what system we play out of this season. I hope my players have the understanding of the principles of play to adjust to whatever system we ask them to play. It is my hope that our team is smart enough to adapt to the opponent and figure out a way to be successful. Offensively, I feel we are a possession oriented team but hope we can be direct if necessary. Defensively , we like to pressure teams out of their comfort zone. We like to get after it. I hope to have teams that or disciplined and organized defensively and creative and determined offensively.
9. PSG International: There are some that argue collegiate soccer is not entertaining enough. That programs seek to keep teams highly organized defensively, looking to score on the counterattack. It is a fact that the structure of collegiate soccer is very unforgiving for teams who may drop a couple of games and miss out on an important vote for the play-offs, thus teams play extremely cautious and defensive. Do you think there is any validity to this argument?
Mike Freitag I feel that it is my responsibility to play effective soccer first and that is to win games. I also feel that I have the responsibility to play the game in an attractive manner. I feel that the teams that win championships are those that can play both sides of the ball. I am sure some teams play not to lose. Indiana Soccer does not take that approach. We play to win.
10. PSG International: Who do you expect to be the main contenders for the final four in 2007? And are there any teams you see out there that you think could be a surprising candidate for a final four appearance?
Mike Freitag Our 2007 adidas/IU Credit Union Classic this Labor Day weekend could be a foreshadowing of the College Cup. Maryland, UCLA, and Notre Dame are all candidates. Duke, St. John’s and about ten more schools could be considered. There is parity all around. I do not take anyone lightly. I consider them all potential College Cup participants.
11. PSG International: Looking back at your past history with IU (including your playing years) what was the major highlight during that time?
Mike Freitag The satisfaction that knowing all your hard work leads to success is something that is very gratafying. We have been a varsity program for 34 years in which I have been associated with the majority of the time. We have won 7 National Championships and been the part of 17 College Cups during that time. I am proud of our consistency to be among college soccer’s elite teams year end year out and to be able to say that our success has been achieved in a first class manner. OK, the 2004 Championship was very special and I hope it compares well with championships in the future.
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