Mike Hatfield resigned his post as head coach of the Trenton boys varsity squad, but will continue to coach the girls team.
BY SAMANTHA ELLIOTT
Hard work pays off.
It’s a saying that coaches tell their athletes all season long; through practices and games, on and off the field.
Trenton soccer coach Michael Hatfield sure has been working hard during his coaching career … his resume is filled with accolades.
Now, that hard work has turned into his dream job.
On June 15, it was announced that Hatfield is the new head coach of the Adrian College Men’s Soccer team.
With the new position, Hatfield will step down as the Trenton boys’ coach, but still be able to coach his Trenton girls’ team in the spring.
For Hatfield, the new position feels so much like going home. He graduated from the area and for the past 12 years has been watching players from his high school and Downriver Rush teams continue on at Adrian for their collegiate career…26 players to be exact.
Like so many life situations the past few months, the process of getting the job was anything but normal.
“Normally, in college when a coach steps down, it happens in the winter, so the new coach gets to come in and meet the athletes in the winter and have their spring season,” Hatfield said. “There’s time for everybody to meet each other, but because of COVID, that’s not how it worked.”
When his predecessor stepped down, Adrian reached out to see if Hatfield knew anyone who would be interested in the job and then, asked if he was interested.
“I told them I am 100 percent interested,” he said. “I’ve always been a fan of Adrian.”
And so, the interview process started going and slowly narrowed its way down through the applicants.
Through the first few steps, everything was held virtually.
“This was all happening pre small gatherings,” Hatfield said. “Everything was Zoom (and) that’s a big move to hire someone collegiately without bringing them on campus and showing the campus.”
Finally, during the last week of interviews, small gatherings were allowed and Hatfield was able to meet on campus and was offered the position.
“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted,” Hatfield said. “It’s close to where I grew up and it just works out that I know the game really well and know Adrian really well.”
Know the game well he does.
Adrian won’t be Hatfield’s first stint at the college level. A decade ago, Hatfield founded both the men and women’s programs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for the club level before taking the men’s team to the varsity level.
Between both programs at Trenton, he has tallied up 8 Downriver League Championships, 10 District Championships, 2 Regional Championships and 2 MHSAA Final Four appearances.
Between his high school and Rush teams, nearly 50 players have advanced to play collegiately and of the 26 that went to Adrian, eight were All MIAA selections and 11 were All MIAA Champions.
Hatfield is thrilled about so many aspects of being back at the college level, specifically being on that side of recruiting.
“The recruiting part is huge for me,” he said. “Helping seniors play collegiately; that’s a big thing.
“I’ve been doing it for my high school and club careers and now I’m back being part of that bridge.”
While Hatfield is walking into a team that he didn’t recruit, he has seen them play and knows the quality of work.
“They’ve been good,” he said. “They’re 11-, 12-win season teams and they’ve been making the MISAA playoffs.
“I can’t come in and not be good, so I have to sharpen my skills and get used to the guys that are there.”
To help build that connection, Hatfield will turn to his Trenton group.
Adrian has been (and still is) home to many big Trenton names over the years; notably, McKenna Mahoney, Brooke Teska, Angela Davis, Makenna Mascaro, Brendan Koziol and Tad Davis.
Koziol and Davis have graduated from the men’s program, Hatfield is leaning on his former athletes to help guide the program.
“There’s all of these people that I’ve got to work with and all of them have great soccer minds,” Hatfield said. “They can tell me and I respect every single opinion they’ve got.
“I’m kind of getting an idea of what I’m walking into, which is great. And you get their support; they’re there and they are gonna help me … it’s not completely walking in empty.”
While the Bulldogs did graduate a solid core of starters last year, Hatfield is excited to watch the up-and-coming athletes.
“That’s going to be very exciting,” he said. “To see these players that were not starters and they get to find themselves as players and now it’s their turn.”
While it has been an usual start, Hatfield is ready to get going with his current players and the help of alumni and create a family atmosphere.
“I love bringing the alumni back and I love making a family,” he said. “It’s not a four-year deal; it’s a lifetime thing.
“It’s something that is more than just a soccer program. It’s a soccer program that creates a family and I want to provide that for these guys.”
For now, Hatfield is reaching out to his players and their families via phone calls, until their meet and greet in July.
“I want them to hear my voice and get them to learn my energy,” he said. “I’m full of energy and I’m full of motivation and spark and fun and hard work.
“There’s a lot of payoff to it. I work as hard as the players do.”
Working hard with his players is what Hatfield prides himself on and knows it will bring success to his teams.
“They need to know you’re going to work with them and help them grow,” he said. “And then once a student feels that — whether a student athlete or a student in the classroom — once they know your best interests, they’ll run hard for you and they’ll go hard for you.”