Former Flyers coach returns with pro team
After successful UD career, Tucker leads Dutch Lions women.
A familiar face in a new place, Mike Tucker wasn’t out of the game long.
After retiring at the end of the 2016 season as head coach of the University of Dayton women’s soccer team — a program he coached for 25 years, 22 as head coach — Tucker, 68, is now at the helm of the Dayton Dutch Lions of the Women’s Professional Soccer League.
“I joke that they caught me in a moment of weakness,” Tucker said with a smile. “I told them I’d think about coaching the women and they took it as a ‘yes.’”
Tucker’s overall record as Flyers head coach was 313-124-33. During his tenure, the Flyers won 11 Atlantic 10 Conference championships, captured 10 A-10 tournament championships and appeared in 10 NCAA tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance. The five-time A-10 coach of the year is excited to be embarking on a new challenge.
Q: What brought you back into coaching after your short-lived retirement?
A: When you coach, you can step away from it, but you’re never totally away. I had every intention of staying involved with the game in some way, but I was going to travel and see the grandkids. Now, the travel will have to wait a few months.
Q: What is the biggest challenge of coaching a WPSL team?
A: You don’t get much time with the players. We got a really late start, well into March, as far as recruiting. And half of these kids are working or taking summer classes. I don’t think we’ve had a single practice where we’ve had everyone. So, I try to keep it simple, and put a system in place.
Q: What do you enjoy most about coaching?
A: I’m very competitive — I like to win — but, at the end of the day, this is for them, the players. I’m helping them get ready for their college season, helping them train. And it really does keep me young. That was one of the things I loved most about being on campus, you pick up the energy that’s out there.
Q: Looks like you have some familiar faces?
A: We have quite a few UD and Wright State players. Almost all of the girls have some tie to Dayton, which makes it really nice.
The Dutch Lions (1-1) next face the Cincinnati Sirens at Lakota East High School on June 9. Their next home match is June 17 against FC Pride, Indianapolis.
The Dutch Lions men’s team is in the midst of a three-game road trip. Next up is a game today against K-W United FC, a USL Premier Development League team from Ontario, Canada. The Dutch Lions next host the Michigan Bucks on June 14.
The Dynamo are on the road this weekend with matches against the Erie Commodores and Syracuse FC. Dayton, with a 4-0-1 record and an NPSL Power Ranking of 12th of 96 teams, will host Fort Pitt Regiment on June 11 at 4 p.m.