Viterbo Gains: Welcome Coach Dunn
With the establishment of a new head coach, Viterbo’s men’s soccer team is in for a season of change.
Originally from Angola, a small town in Indiana, Lucas Dunn spent time as a soccer player at Valparaiso University, where he discovered his desire to enter the coaching profession.
He began as a student assistant coach with the team once his playing career was over. After earning a degree, he went onto graduate school while continuing as assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Trine University. From there, he moved to assistant coach at Purdue University. Today, he is head coach of Viterbo’s men’s soccer team.
The new interaction between team and coach has been a positive one: “They have made me feel welcome as a new member of the team and campus community,” explains Dunn about his new players, whose attitude and character are a major part of a what he enjoys about the team. “Their attitude and willingness to buy into the culture we are trying to create within the team has been really positive.”
As a coach, Dunn has enjoyed the relationships he has developed so far. As for building upon them, Dunn explains there are both informal and formal team bonding experiences.
“It is things as simple as team dinners on the road, relaxing in the pool and hot tub in the hotel, all watching a movie on the bus, and even pizza after a home game with the fans,” Dunn states.
The players also bonded with their new coach by doing things like helping Chad Gilbeck move and recycle old IT equipment and setting up tables and chairs in the Mathy Center for faculty and staff dinners.
When the team is not out on trips and bonding, they are working hard at practice.
“The average practice is right around 90 minutes,” explains Dunn. “At practice, we want to try and replicate a game as much as possible. A game is 90 minutes with few breaks and high intensity play.”
The team has shorter practices compared to others, but the intensity is still there. As it turns out, there are many advantages to this type of practice, especially since most practices are held in the morning.
“It gives you a fresh start to practice. When you begin, it is the first thing you will do all day,” explains Dunn. “You won’t be exhausted form classes, projects, homework or anything else that day.”
Dunn also explains that 6:30 a.m. practices also help players practice discipline and professionalism regarding the team culture.
“It is something that helps reinforce and build the team culture,” says Dunn. “It is challenging and takes discipline and sacrifice to come out to practice each morning.”
This type of structure is necessary for the new atmosphere the team is working to build. As for the direction Dunn plans to go this season, he explains this year is about turning things around for the team’s previous seasons and working to progress.
“Something everyone on the team wants to accomplish is to win as many games as possible,” says Dunn. “But in addition to that, this season is about creating a positive team culture based on hard work, holding ourselves and our teammates accountable and playing together effectively as a team.”