By Joe St. Henry
Special to The Review
To say Lake Orion’s new varsity boys soccer coach Matt Paukovits lives and breathes the sport would be an understatement.
A native of New York, his college soccer career started at Ulster Community College, where he took his team to the national junior college finals. In 1985, he was named regional player of the year.
Paukovits transferred to Oakland University in Rochester and started on defense during 1987-88. OU played in the 1988 NCAA DII finals. In 1994, he played professionally for the Detroit Wheels.
He was assistant head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy from 1992-96 and again in 2002. Paukovits also was an assistant coach in 2006 for the Mid-Michigan Bucks of the Professional Development League.
The Detroit Public Schools teacher and father of two young boys, however, says his real passion is working with younger players.
He spent 15 years as a coach with the Vardar Soccer Club, and then became head of coaching for the Oakland FC Soccer Club. He founded the Lake Orion Soccer Club in 2006.
Taking over the varsity boys program at the high school helped fulfill another long-time goal of the coach, who admits he is married to a very patient woman.
‘I’ve always wanted to run my own high school program,? Paukovits said. ‘It’s an exciting time for me. Given the growth of soccer in this community, I think Lake Orion has great potential. I appreciate everyone’s support.?
Paukovits? immediate goal for the boys? soccer program at Lake Orion is to establish coaching consistency among all of the boys? teams in order to develop the best varsity rosters possible. Skill development, he says, is key.
‘You always want to win ? that’s why we play the games,? he explained. ‘But, in the bigger picture, our job is to develop quality soccer players.?
If he and his coaches can do this, Paukovits thinks the sport will grow even deeper roots in the community.
‘I grew up in a small town in New York with a strong, proud soccer tradition,? he said. ‘I hope to build on what has been started here and establish a similar tradition here in Lake Orion.?