Hardee a great man and coach
It seems like yesterday that I strapped on my cleats for practice and went off to the soccer field. It wasn’t yesterday but 1988.
As I got to the field, I noticed this curly haired man standing on the field already shouting instructions to those who arrived ahead of me. That curly haired man was my new coach Charlie Hardee.
Over the next two years, he helped us become better soccer players but most importantly better men. I’ve watched as he grew as a man and a coach coming two victories from every high school coach’s dream, a state championship. I’ve always enjoyed the great friendship he and I have shared. It saddens my heart to see him leave Warren County soccer.
The measure of success of a program is whether you leave it in better shape than when you came. Coach Hardee has done that. I wish him the best of luck at whatever he decides to do next.
I could ramble on about how it is not a coach’s job to please parents (trust me you can’t please them all) but to make the young person you coach a better person and athlete. And trust me if you ask those who played for coach Hardee, they will tell you they are better not only to be coached by him but to also have known him. He always gave everything to soccer and I hope he always does.
Alan Brownyard
5077 Shellsford Road
McMinnville