It is the second half of overtime in the first round of the varsity district soccer game between the Loy Norrix Knights and the Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants. The Knights are up 4 to 3 with two minutes left in the game. Senior goalkeeper Carlos Santos makes a save to stop the Giants from scoring. This causes Loy Norrix coach Scott Forrester to yell, “Push up!” to his team, so his defense and midfield will move up the field and make it harder for Kalamazoo Central to score. 

Scott Forrester, Loy Norrix’s new soccer coach, began his career at the high school in the fall of 2018 after transferring from another school.

Scott Forrester has coached for over 20 years where he led teams at the university, high school, and club level throughout the state of Michigan. Forrester was the assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at the University of Michigan for six years from 1996 to 2001, where he won two Big Ten tournaments in 1997 and 1999. 

“First off, coaching in big time Division 1 athletics is a thrill and a privilege,” Forrester said. “Being able to work with some of the best athletes in the country and helping them to become better players is the pinnacle of coaching. Having top notch facilities, support staff and the ability to schedule any team in the country to make your team the best they can be is what any coach desires.” 

Forrester has also coached at the high school level before Loy Norrix, coaching at Dexter High School in Dexter, Michigan for 14 years where he led his team to many different championships. 

Forrester talked about his shining moment when coaching at Dexter. “[Winning the title] 2006, winning the state title in penalties followed by two more years making it to the finals,” Forrester said. 

Scott Forrester began coaching at Loy Norrix to help improve the soccer program. He became the new varsity coach for the men’s team in the fall of 2018, and later the varsity coach for the women’s team in the spring of 2020. Forrester explained the importance of being the head coach of Loy Norrix’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. 

“I’m able to develop a soccer culture at the high school that has common interest, which encourages support from gender to gender,” Forrester said. “Having our student body supporting at the men’s games is a great motivating factor in some of our successes. I hope in turn that the men’s side returns the favor in the spring when the girls are playing.” 

Junior and three year varsity player Anthony Herrera is an outside midfielder for the team. Herrera said he approves of the job Forrester has done to help improve the soccer program at Loy Norrix. 

“I think he’s a great coach,” Herrera said. “He fits in with what we have going on with Loy Norrix soccer.” 

Herrera appreciates what Forrester has done for him and the team. 

“I admire that he deals with our team everyday,” Herrera said. “Thanks to Coach, I’ve had an extremely successful experience on the team.” 

Scott Forrester plans to continue coaching for more years and hopes to achieve more notable accomplishments.