By David Fleet
Editor
Atlas Twp. — The 400 win club for high school soccer coaches added a new member on Wednesday night.
Veteran Goodrich Varsity Soccer Coach, Evan Huizenga upped his career record to a 400-185-40 record with a 4-0 shutout of Clio at home.
“Thank you players, community, staff, my family, and all the coaches over the years that lifted Martian Soccer to this milestone,” said Huizenga following the win.
Spectators and players from both teams recognized Huizenga with “400” signs.
“It’s about the love of the game, but more important is the ability to have a positive impact on young adults,” he said. “Learning sportsmanship and the ability to lose and win and being graceful at both.”
In 2021, Huizenga opted to step down after a stellar 142-103-17 record as coach of the Martian Girls Soccer team, which included Genesee Area Conference Championships in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2019 and a Blackhawk Cup Championship in 2017. He continued to coach the Martian Boys Team which included a state championship in 2008. Remarkably from 2006-2018 the Martian Boys won every GAC championship. Then in 2019 and 20 they tied for the Flint Metro League title with Fenton and Linden. On Oct. 3, the Martian Boys defeated Fenton for the 2022 league title. As of press time on Thursday the Martian boys are 258-82-23.
A former soccer standout, Huizenga grew up playing youth soccer in Goodrich and Brandon. A 1997 GHS graduate, he played four years on the varsity team, then went on to play at Tri State University, which is now Trine University in Angola, Ind. While there he was also a youth league coach. After college he started working with the high school teams the fall after graduation. He spent a few years with the JV team and as an assistant coach then took over the varsity program.