Milligan College has recently announced the addition of the new men’s head soccer coach, David Lilly. The 2007 Milligan graduate made the decision to return to his alma mater when he was offered the coaching position late in the fall of last year.
Lilly was more than a student at Milligan; he was also a member of the soccer team.
Choosing to attend Milligan was “an easy choice” for him.
What originally drew Lilly to Milligan was the relationship he had formed with the head coach at the time, Marty Shirley.
“Marty Shirley was the head coach, and he had reached out to me and kept in touch with me during the process,” Lilly said. “He showed a big interest and let me know he really wanted me at Milligan.”
When offered the head coaching position, Lilly knew he had to jump at the opportunity. He had enjoyed his time here as a student and wanted to make sure that he could give back to the program that had given him so much. Lilly knew that returning to coach would allow him to be a part of the struggles and excitements that make college athletics so enjoyable.
As a former, successful, Milligan soccer player, Lilly knows the importance of having a team that is motivated to do better. He also knows what it is like to compete at a higher level than the current team is used to. He wants to instill that motivation to succeed within the hearts and minds of his new team.
Lilly has stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of motivation to his new athletes, saying, “If they can keep that level of motivation, even during the difficult times, that will be our key to developing as a team.”
His main goal as the new head coach is to develop these young men and help prepare them for the future.
“I would hope I am going to help these guys develop as players and also as people, within our team philosophy,” Lilly said. “If I can do that, then I will know they have gotten the most out of their experience here, and I will be very happy.”
When asked about preparing for the fall season, Lilly talked about the importance of creating a “strong foundation that will help build the team for the future.”
“My ultimate goal this spring is to improve our team mentality, training habits and reactions as much as possible,” Lilly said. “Without this foundation, it is going to be very difficult to really improve on the different demands of the game moving forward.”
As the new head coach, Lilly is hoping to implement a team mentality on the field and in the classroom. He wants to make sure the young men that make up his team will be representing Milligan in a positive way all the time.
“Ultimately, our goal is to give Milligan and our community something to be proud of on and off the field, and I think the rest will take care of itself.”
Sophomore men’s soccer player Luis de la Torre was enthusiastic with the hiring of Lilly as the new head coach.
“Lilly is very open with what he wants from us as a team. He’s very big on the player-coach relationship, and that helps us become better as individuals and collectively as a team,” de la Torre said. “He knows what it takes to be a great player and a part of a great team.”
De la Torre can already see a difference in the team since Lilly started coaching them. He personally wanted a coach that would unite the team and make them stronger. De la Torre said it was important to have a coach that instills confidence in his players. That confidence not only helps them become better on the field, but also in the classroom.
“The team mentality is getting stronger, which helps our players become more confident,” said de la Torre. “The team is already working together better, and this will only help us in the future.”
With Lilly already making a positive impact within his team, it should be exciting to see what the fall season holds in store for the Buffaloes!