Players want to win for Yeagley

What an emotional week it has been for the IU men's soccer team. First, it was announced early last week that IU coach Jerry Yeagley had the most wins in Division I soccer history, due to a recently discovered records error. Then Saturday, the No. 8 seed Hoosiers traveled to UCLA and toppled the No. 1 seed and defending National Champion Bruins, 2-1. As a result, IU will play in the College Cup this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It will meet Santa Clara (16-3-4) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Columbus Crew Stadium.\nThis marks Yeagley's last final four, a record 16th time he has led the Hoosiers (15-3-5) to the prominent event. He will be searching for the program's sixth National Championship in his 31-year career. \nYeagley, who is set to retire at the end of the season, said he takes his accomplishments in stride and credits his players. \n"There's no secret, as I've said before," Yeagley said. "Great players make good coaches. Good coaches don't make great players. Maybe I deserve some credit for the recruiting, but the players have been instrumental. They've carried me along for a real fun ride."\nWith the pressure seemingly removed from the shoulders of the IU players because Yeagley's search for the all-time wins record is over, the players have settled down to play some of their best soccer of the season when it has mattered most.\nSenior midfielder Drew Shinabarger said there's relief of pressure now that Yeagley owns the record. Shinabarger added that winning the national title would be perfect in Yeagley's final season. \n"It would be awesome," Shinabarger said. "What a great way to cap it off. He already got the record, but we're still looking past that and trying to get him the National Championship."\nYeagley, who directed the IU club soccer team for ten years before it earned varsity status in 1973, last led the Hoosiers to the national title in 1999. Yeagley has guided the program to 66 NCAA Tournament victories in his three-plus decades at the helm. \nYeagley said he's had a handful of mentors help him realize his coaching potential.\n"I've had a number of coaches I've looked up to," said Yeagley, who is one of only two coaches in history to win 500 career games. "My high school coach, Barney Hoffman was one. Then there's Doc Councilman and coach (Bobby) Knight, who were both at IU. They're leaders in their professions. I learned the most from Doc. My most influential soccer coach was Harry Keough at St. Louis University. He's always one I looked up to."\nKeough compiled 213 wins at St. Louis -- the most victories in the program's history from 1967-1982. \nMoreover, Yeagley said the assistant coaches at IU have been a big help to him, and assistant coach Mike Freitag is the perfect man to be the new head coach.\n"Along with great players, we have tremendous assistants," Yeagley said. "Mike was one of my most favorite players here at IU. He has IU in his blood. He has a passion for the game. He's prepared. He's honest and fair. Having my son (Todd Yeagley) on the staff will keep me connected. I think of Michael as my younger brother."\nFreitag, who was a former Hoosier player, was named the second head coach in IU men's soccer history Nov. 11.\nSophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin said Yeagley stresses class. Plotkin said representing IU at the College Cup is an honor. \n"We've got Adidas we're representing; we've got the University we're representing; we're representing our team, ourselves, our coaches, our parents, everybody," Plotkin said. "You want to go out there and show everybody what it's like to be at IU. Make everybody wish they could be a part of it." \nShinabarger concurs with Plotkin and said everything the team does, it tries to do with class. He added the way the team members carry themselves on the field and off the field is important. He said Yeagley has taught the team if they win, win with class, if they lose, lose with class. \nFinally, Plotkin said winning the National Championship would be a perfect way to send Yeagley off into the sunset. \n"I don't even know if there's words to really describe it," Plotkin said. "He's just been such an amazing coach, an amazing person and an amazing leader for the whole college soccer program, and here at Indiana. There's really no better way. It would probably just be the dream walk-out for him."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.