If the Monarch girls soccer team isn’t successful this spring, it won’t be because the Coyotes didn’t get the new coach they wanted.
Monarch enthusiastically announced Friday that Ryan Henkel will take over the program, effective immediately. Henkel replaces former University of Colorado standout Gianna DeSaverio, who earned a promotion at her day job and no longer had the time to fully commit to the team.
While sad to see DeSaverio go, Monarch athletic director Mark Sibley was delighted to welcome aboard Henkel. The 36-year-old has worked closely with the Boulder County Force (now FC Boulder) since 2004 as a coach, tournament director and director of coaches for ages 9 to 14.
“I like that he has a lot of years of experience teaching girls soccer,” Sibley said. “His skill set is really around teaching kids technique and footwork, and he has a history of developing programs that are competitive year after year.”
Prior to arriving in Colorado in 2003, Henkel helped build the immensely successful Connecticut Football Club back east. He will maintain his post with FC Boulder while taking a crack at translating his success to the varsity level.
“I’m excited,” Henkel said. “It’s a great opportunity to get into a program that might not be in as big of a soccer-rich community and create a culture in Louisville, a spirit and an environment where people are passionate about soccer.”
Henkel is inheriting a program that went 9-6-1 last season and plans to get right to work.
“I’m not a coach that’s going to expect anything other than see success,” Henkel said. “That being said, any time you take over a program it’s going to take a little time to see the culture you’re trying to build. I haven’t seen the team yet, so I can’t break it down that way, but I expect to see success.”
Henkel was one of five candidates for the job, three of which went through the interview process.
“This is what we really wanted to get in our girls soccer program,” Sibley said. “We’re very excited.”
