What are the biggest challenges coaching NCAA Division 1 college soccer?
Albert: “The biggest challenge now is that there is a tremendous amount of parity in college soccer. Every game is difficult. When I first started, you would have three or four big games and we used to beat people 7-0 or 8-0. Now, basically there are no easy games anymore. That makes it even more difficult to have a winning season because if you want to play a competitive schedule and have a chance to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, which we’ve done a few times, you have to play the toughest teams you can play. Even the so-called easy games are not easy.” Q: How has the coach’s job changed in 33 years? Albert: “It’s much more professional now. When I started I coached two varsity sports, soccer and lacrosse, and had a full-time teaching load. I taught physical education. For seven years, I was a full-time teacher and coaching soccer and lacrosse. When I dropped lacrosse, I also went to a half load in teaching. Then in the early 1980s, I went to strictly a soccer coach. I mi
