The NIU men’s soccer team won three games in 2003, coach Steve Simmons’ first season.

Last year the team went 12-7 and this fall the team is 7-2-1. The Huskies have put together two four-game winning streaks, with the current one consisting of four 1-0 wins.

Between beating then No. 26 St. Louis for the first time in team history and preparing NIU to have a shot at winning its first MAC title, the third-year coach took time to discuss the challenge of turning around the program, his path to NIU and what the Huskies have to do to win the MAC.

Northern Star: Three wins. 12 wins. Now you’re 7-2-1. What’s the key to the team’s success?

Steve Simmons: Preparation, maturity and recruiting. The players are now older and they’ve bought in to what we’re doing. They’ve raised the bar for themselves.

NS: What’s been the most challenging part of turning the program around?

SS: I’d say the level of demand we put on our guys in light of difficult times. Sometimes as a coach it’s easier to take your foot off the gas pedal when the team goes through a rough time.

NS: What’s it been like starting as a head coach at the Division-III level and working your way up?

SS: Real. Very real. When you’re at the D-III level you really get to assess how much you want to be in this trade. If you do love it, you will love it at every level. Being there was very vital for me. I don’t think I’d be here without that experience.

NS: You start MAC play this week. Is there any kind of shift in play or focus for yourself and the players?

SS: We have enough returning guys that the transition is automatic. For men’s soccer we have five games to make a statement since there are six teams in the conference for our sport. Everyone knows the importance and we have a lot to prove in the MAC.

NS: What does the team have to do to win the program’s first MAC Championship?

SS: What happens is that after the first half of the season is over, the teams that have done well are well-scouted. Our ability to adapt to our opponent will be huge. We talk a lot about our guys being honest with their teammates and knowing individually whether they’re playing well or not. They have to have enough belief in themselves so that they can also rely on their teammates if they’re in a stretch where they’re not playing well.