For 21 straight years, Arnold Tarzy had been the WCHS Boys Varsity Soccer head coach. It caught many by surprise when, following the boys’ varsity 2023 season, Coach Tarzy announced his retirement from coaching high school soccer; the position that held Coach Tarzy’s legacy was up for grabs. It took about a month to find his successor: Stephen Hauschild.
Hauschild, a WCHS alumnus, played on the Boys Varsity Soccer team before graduating in 2011 and going on to play collegiate soccer at American University. In Hauschild’s first year coaching at WCHS, he led the Bulldogs to a record of 11-2-2 solely against public schools. This record is a significant upgrade from last year’s record of 7-5-1.
“[From the start], the team had a lot of great players, but it felt like when they played, they were disjointed and looked like they lacked confidence because they were losing games they shouldn’t have,” Hauschild said. “Every game [that] they got scored on, they lost the previous year. The games looked like they lacked some rhythm and a consistent style of play and how they wanted to play.”
The team’s rapid improvement is a testament to Coach Hauschild’s coaching philosophy. His thinking, despite appearing tedious, is directly attributable to the increased success within the boys’ varsity program.
“Getting the boys in the weight room three times a week was more than just trying to get stronger,” Hauschild said. “It was about them building confidence in themselves and believing they could play in games where they [may] give up a goal.”
This level of discipline was important to reprioritize within the team, particularly from the past years, to build up the players’ self-confidence. Additionally, the training was able to accomplish much more off the field.
“This year’s team is much more unified and we are much closer as a group,” junior team member Charlie Datch said. “[This is mainly] because we spent a lot of time together in the weight room [this past] winter.”
A testament to both the improved fitness levels and the well-established comradery, the boys were able to maintain seven clean sheets—when the opposing team was prevented from scoring—and make it to the regional finals. However, the journey was not always easy. For instance, during the playoff game against BCC in the regional semi-finals, it was a battle, to say the least.
“That game really tested me as a coach but [it] also [tested] the players, [it] was not how I thought it would go at all,” Hauschild said. “From scoring in the first 30 seconds of the game to then being down 2-1, [it] was a roller coaster of emotions.”
The Bulldogs finished second in their region, Class 4A West II, ending with a region record of 3-0-1. The region of Class 4A West II is extremely competitive with Walt Whitman HS, Quince Orchard HS, Walter Johnson HS, Bethesda Chevy Chase HS, and Gaithersburg HS. With that said, the boys were able to be very successful within the grouping, but the job was unfinished.
“By the end of the season, we built a good defense and good strategies that appealed to all players,” Datch said. “Our goal is a state championship, but winning counties or playing in counties [would be] a great step as well.”
Despite the season not ending in the teams’ ultimate goal, the immense improvement from an already successful team has not gone unnoticed. Hauschild credits his success on the pitch not only to his coaching methods but also to the passionate players.
“I also think having a system that played to our strengths really helped a lot of individuals play well,” Hauschild said. “It helped the players understand where their teammates will be standing in and out of possession. [With that], all our success was because the players worked so hard outside of soccer. I think there is a lot to thank them for trusting me. Their commitment to getting better and working every day can’t be overlooked.”
