Warrior girls start soccer season with new head coach

When the Wasilla Warriors girls' soccer team takes the field for its season opener April 22, the squad will have a new coach roaming the sideline.

Prior to the beginning of preseason practice, Wasilla named Katie Broeder as the team's new head coach.

Broeder replaces former head coach Tony Jensen, who stepped down after last season.

Broeder, a special education teacher at Wasilla High, was at the top of a short list of candidates, according to Wasilla activities director Doug Bean.

"We re-evaluated the programs after last year and we needed to make a change," Bean said. "Sometimes in coaching the stars don't line up and you need to make a change. Tony built a good program and got it to a stage. Now we are looking for Katie to take it to the next level.

"Katie's gung-ho."

This is the first head coaching opportunity at the high school level for Broeder, a 1996 graduate of Palmer High School and veteran of the Moose girls' soccer team. Broeder served as the junior varsity boys' coach last year at Wasilla.

"I am very excited," Broeder said. "We did lose a lot, but we have a lot of strong seniors and strong juniors coming back."

Broeder said coaching at this level has been an interest and this opportunity came at an ideal time.

"It is something that fell into my lap," Broeder said.

Broeder said her biggest philosophy she will try to instill in her athletes is work ethic.

"Hard work pays off," Broeder said. "Practice like you play."

Wasilla is scheduled to open the season with a home date against the Soldotna Stars On

April. 22.