With the recent success of the NIU Soccer team, a closer look is being given to the progress of coach Willy Roy—one of the top names in U.S. soccer history.

Roy, a Hall of Famer, enjoys success now because he did the same thing for the Chicago Sting, when he saved the ailing Sting from the cellar and the existence of the franchise, not once, but twice.

In 1977, Roy took over as interim coach for the second half of the season and the Sting went 6-6, but he won some key games in ending the Sting’s landslide. At the end of the season, Roy didn’t get the official job, but he would be back.

The following season, the Sting dropped to 2-14. It was Willy Roy to the rescue! Roy changed the faces of the club and took the Sting to the playoffs and a 12-18 second place Central Division finish. Roy lead the Chicago Sting to the 1981 Soccer Championship and he was named Coach of the Year.

Here at NIU, Willy Roy is at it again. The Huskies are currently enjoying their best start with a 7-2-1 record and a promising future.

Roy was asked what the differences were between college level soccer and professional level from a successful coaches eye.

He said on the pro level there is much more initial pressure to succeed because you’re getting paid to win. Unlike college, there is no such thing as rebuilding time, but you can trade players in the pro ranks to get what you need as Roy did in the 1977 and 1978 seasons for the Sting.

Right now, Roy is in his second recruiting season, so he’s forming the team that he wants to fit his style of coaching. The disadvantage is that he’s getting freshman and these kids are coming out of high school without having enough legitimate soccer coaching. The players lack the basic fundamentals of the game and they have to face juniors and seniors, so there is an inexperience factor.

This is where Roy displays his talent.

“I’m a disciplinarian, father, friend, helper,” Roy said. “I play all sorts of roles, not just the coach.”

Roy said that he coaches with honesty to the kids and tells them exactly what they have to do to make the team.

“I’m quite up front with the players,” Roy said. “I will tell them exactly what needs to be done and always be open with them.”

oy said that he sets the standards high for the players, so they can achieve perfection or their goals of playing professional soccer. This way there is a lot more teaching on the collegiate level. But it’s the same type of teaching, ultimately as in the pro’s.

“We all need something to strive for in life,” Roy said. “Every player should strive to become a champion.”

Roy tries to help players achieve that goal and achieving the ultimate goal is still rewarding to Roy on the college level.

“I feel that it’s more rewarding coaching on the collegiate level,” Roy said. “It gets frustrating, but when the guys do good, I get really excited for them.”

Roy’s philosophies on the field carry over to real life also.

“Life isn’t meant to be easy,” Roy said. “If kids work at it, they’ll be successful!”