July 29, 2024 By Cam Cyr
After playing soccer for four years at Hobart College, David Leahy began coaching for Winchendon School when he was 23 years old.
“[Winchendon] was a soccer powerhouse with players from all over the world… with intelligence so far ahead of soccer in the US at the time,” he said.
Leahy now prepares to lead the Hingham boys varsity team with expectations that his players can possess the same level of intelligence.
He has spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the team, learning the “intelligent and relentless” soccer that former head coach Ken Carlin created. Carlin retired at the end of last season after a 25 year coached career, all in Hingham.
Here, Leahy learned the importance of how knowledge of the game can benefit a player’s tangible skills.
“The most intelligent teams are the best with the ball, keeping the ball and getting it back quickly,” he said. “We will always strive to be at our best in these areas.”
Leahy hopes that his players will leave his team with a willingness to continue to play the game.
“I want players to play this awesome game until they are too old to walk.”