The varsity soccer team at CBC was about to start a practice session last week when coach Terry Michler had each player tell the group a little about himself.
Read about some of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area's top high school boys soccer players as the season gets under way.
The exercise helped with team bonding and also worked to the coach’s benefit.
Michler, 77 years old, is back at the helm after sitting out last season while dealing with some medical issues. The nation’s most successful high school soccer coach — his career record is 1,039-300-118 and includes nine state championships — spent last season coaching from afar via video after losing his left leg to amputation.
“It’s been a long go, but I’m happy to be back. I feel good, I’m excited about it and I’m energized by it,†Michler said. “As long as I could handle it physically, I never doubted being back on the sideline and I was lucky that the timing worked out to my advantage.
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“There are limitations, of course, but a big part of coaching involves observation and I’m still fully capable of that. My mind with soccer is still sharp, I can see what’s going on and I can develop ideas and come up with a plan. I can’t physically show it anymore, but I have younger assistant coaches, including a few who’ve played for me, who are more than able to help with that.â€
Michler’s health issues came following a fall in the shower on July 4.
“I live alone and was in the back part of my house; I had to crawl to the phone and ended up in the emergency room,’’ he recalled. “I was diagnosed with a leg infection, but I don’t think they really knew the extent of it at that point. I had been complaining about some intense pain for a while.â€
Michler’s situation took a turn last September, but he doesn’t recall some of that time.
“They tell me I refused to take my medicine and that they couldn’t control me, but I only know that because of what I was told,’’ he recalled. “I was taken to BJC in St. Peters for a full body scan and then transferred to BJC in the City.
“My first recollection after a couple of days was meeting with a team of doctors who told me that if I didn’t have the leg removed that I was going to die. Life or limb, there wasn’t much of an option.â€
Michler’s left leg was amputated Sept. 22.
“I was moved to the rehabilitation facility — a really wonderful place — on Oct. 6 and I’ve been there ever since, going to regular therapy sessions and making some progress,’’ he said.
Through that time, he tried to stay connected with his team last season via the internet. “Technologically associated “ was the phrase he jokingly used.
Michler has received similar support from the CBC varsity coaching staff, which features ex-Cadets Randy Roy, who filled in as head coach last season, Kevin Whalen and Liam Jacober as well as former Parkway Central head soccer coach and athletic director John Theobald and Mark Zimmerman.
“I still feel bad about last season,’’ he added. “We returned a strong senior group from a team that lost on a penalty kick to Rockhurst in the (2022) state final and our goal was to come back strong and make it right.â€
Last season, the Cadets were eliminated 3-0 by Lindbergh in the state quarterfinals.
This season, CBC features only two players — captains Ryan Rook and James Martin — who Michler coached previously.
“It’s as close as I’ve been to coaching a new team at CBC since I started there 53 years ago,’’ he said. “It’s going to take time, I know, but I’m confident that we can figure it out. We’re still getting to know each other, but being back on the soccer field with the kids feels incredible. And so does all the support I’ve received from people who’ve reached out to me in one way or another. That means a lot to me; it’s tremendously motivating to know people care.â€
Read about some of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area's top high school boys soccer players as the season gets under way.