MaxPreps 2013 Soccer Early Contenders: Needham boys

He is, quite simply, the face of Massachusetts high school soccer. How could he not be?

Needham (Mass.) boys coach Don Brock is in his sixth decade of coaching, the last 46 years at his venerable suburban Boston school. He has basically written the book on coaching management, sportsmanship and protocol, particularly as they pertain to player conduct and working with officials. A career record of 662-179-117 ensures he will someday retire as one of the most successful coaches in the history of American high school soccer. He has won four state titles.

Many speculated that if Needham won last season's MIAA Division 1 playoff title that 2012 would be his last season.

The Rockets won again. Brock remains in motion. Another season awaits. Needham is one of 10 fall boys teams to be honored as a national title Early Contender presented by adidas and Dick's Sporting Goods.



"I still enjoy coaching; I still enjoy the kids, the games and really enjoy practices," the 76-year-old Brock said. "I know the end is near. I'm taking it a year at a time and will probably know when the time is right. But in the meantime, it's still fun going to work and seeing kids grow and applying my mathematics to soccer."

See all the 2013 Fall Soccer Early Contenders

That's something you don't hear every day - applying mathematics to soccer. But it's simple. Its origins are tied to the same person who made Brock, a retired math teacher, a stickler for proper conduct and decorum on the soccer pitch.

"Odd we're talking about this today because the person who influenced me the most in coaching and teaching, Ed King, just died, at age 91," said Brock.

"He was my mathematics teacher (at nearby Duxbury) and my soccer coach, and he had a style of coaching and a way of teaching the game back then that I adopted over the years, and still use today. There was a lot about math that I learned to apply to coaching, how to play angles defensively, how to see the field and break it down, that sort of thing.

"A lot has changed over the years," he added, "but some things have stayed the same."



See the entire Needham photo gallery

Local outlook: "There is no question that Don Brock has earned the title of Mr. Soccer in Massachusetts. As someone who has covered Brock for nearly three decades, I can say he has never wavered from his core beliefs, and the results speak for themselves. He has won the battle of time and the results speak for themselves."
- Dan Ventura, Boston Herald (@BostonHeraldHS)
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State classification: MIAA Division 1

Enrollment: 1,500

Athletic director: Micah Hauben

2012 finish: 21-1-3 (No. 14 in NSCAA poll, MIAA Division 1 champs)

Head coach: Don Brock



Years at school: 46

Career record: 662-179-117

Notable team achievements: Four MIAA titles (1968, 1977, 1995 and 2012)... The 1977-78 teams set a record of 23 straight games without allowing a goal. 

Notable soccer alumni: Steven Hauschka, placekicker with the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks; Doug Williamson, member of 1968 state championship team and a senior national staff member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Notable non-soccer facts about school: U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and former NHL player, coach and U.S. Olympian Robbie Ftorek is a Needham graduate and a former Needham star soccer player, too. He also coached the Boston Bruins... The annual Needham-Wellesley football game, played on Thanksgiving morning, is the oldest running public school rivalry in the nation, dating back 125 years.
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Key Losses:

F Mac Steeves (Providence)

M Will Corkery

M Brandon Miskin



G Kevin MacMillan

Key Returners:

Sr. Adam Lassman

Sr. Daniel Alpert

Sr. Jordan Angel

Sr. Hantzly Murat

Sr. Mathew Brand



Sr. Andres Pinto

Jr. Greg Evans

Jr. Aram Ouligian

Jr. Jason Miller

Jr. Aaron Maslow

Rising Contributors:

Eight to 10 players promoted from undefeated JV and freshman teams.
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Toughest Game: Wellesley. The football rivalry between Bay State Conference neighbors Needham and Wellesley took on legendary proportions over a century ago. In soccer, Needham was the No. 1 ranked team in the Boston area last fall and Wellesley wasn't ranked in the end, but Wellesley handed Needham its only loss of 2012, 2-0, on Sept. 7. Wellesley was headed for a stellar season as well after winning 11 of its first 13 but faded in the end. That may not happen again in 2013.

Question Marks: Lack of experience and unknown intangibles. Last season's team had a special blend of talent, flair, chemistry and the ability to do what was needed. It was a veteran group. There's plenty of talent with this new group for 2013 but sometimes it takes a while for the pieces to come together. That's what time will tell.

National Look: Massachusetts has a proud tradition of being one of the great hosts to the United States National Team and great international and MLS events at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. It also hosted a portion of the 1994 World Cup in Foxboro. Like Needham, Somerville was another Top 25 team last season from Eastern Massachusetts while Ludlow, in Western Massachusetts, has long been a soccer hotbed and a prep power.

In Summary: "Losing eight seniors right down the middle and with every team going after us...we expect a very tough season. Last year's captains were very skilled players and at the moment we do not see many players that could fill their shoes. But we expect to be very competitive by the end of the season."
- Head coach Don Brock
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