Jeremy Ratcliff resigns as HHS girls soccer coach
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Four-year head coach Jeremy Ratcliff announced his resignation as Hillsboro Lady Indians soccer coach Tuesday.
As head coach of the Hillsboro girls soccer program, Ratcliff compiled an overall record of 43-26-6, including a district title in 2014, a season where the Lady Indians were regional runners-up.
Ratcliff was also an assistant and junior varsity coach for the Lady Indians for four years under former head coach Leslie Molen.
[[In-content Ad]]
Ratcliff told The Highland County Press that his decision was due to “the demands and responsibilities” of his role as director of the Highland County Probation Department.
“It was a tough decision,” Ratcliff said. “It really just boiled down to the demands and responsibilities of my day job as director of the probation department. I didn’t feel it was fair to the athletes to continue in the role of head coach when it seems like more and more, my time is being pulled away.
“There’s a lot of time and demands on a head coach that a lot of people really don’t know or understand. As my daily responsibilities increase, I just felt it was in the best interest of the players for me to step aside and allow somebody that has a little more time to devote to the program and the kids.”
In addition to coaching soccer, Ratcliff has worked at Hillsboro High School as an assistant wrestling and softball coach. Ratcliff said that he plans to continue in those roles “as long as they’ll let me.”
“I talked to the girls [soccer team] about that this morning,” Ratcliff said. “Those demands are considerably less. I wanted to make sure my players understood that.”
Ratcliff thanked his players and other individuals for their support over the past four years.
“I’d like to thank the athletic department and Mr. [Dave] Dietrick for all his support,” Ratcliff said. “He’s a great athletic director to work for. I want to thank my assistant coaches, Amanda Miller and Alyssa Walker and Katie Moberly, and of course my family for allowing me to coach.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the players for playing for me. I will miss that relationship, and I appreciate every single one of them.”
Dietrick also told The Highland County Press that Hillsboro was grateful for Ratcliff’s time as head coach.
"There's so much more than just wins and losses that people don't always understand about coaching," Dietrick said. "Jeremy was always leading with values, teaching the kids to do what's right and what's important. I think all the kids came out better for having played for him."
The Hillsboro High School athletic department released a statement Tuesday that “the athletic department will begin the process of searching for a new girls soccer coach very soon.”
“We would like to thank Jeremy for his dedicated years of service to the Hillsboro student athletes, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors,” the athletic department release said.
As head coach of the Hillsboro girls soccer program, Ratcliff compiled an overall record of 43-26-6, including a district title in 2014, a season where the Lady Indians were regional runners-up.
Ratcliff was also an assistant and junior varsity coach for the Lady Indians for four years under former head coach Leslie Molen.
[[In-content Ad]]
Ratcliff told The Highland County Press that his decision was due to “the demands and responsibilities” of his role as director of the Highland County Probation Department.
“It was a tough decision,” Ratcliff said. “It really just boiled down to the demands and responsibilities of my day job as director of the probation department. I didn’t feel it was fair to the athletes to continue in the role of head coach when it seems like more and more, my time is being pulled away.
“There’s a lot of time and demands on a head coach that a lot of people really don’t know or understand. As my daily responsibilities increase, I just felt it was in the best interest of the players for me to step aside and allow somebody that has a little more time to devote to the program and the kids.”
In addition to coaching soccer, Ratcliff has worked at Hillsboro High School as an assistant wrestling and softball coach. Ratcliff said that he plans to continue in those roles “as long as they’ll let me.”
“I talked to the girls [soccer team] about that this morning,” Ratcliff said. “Those demands are considerably less. I wanted to make sure my players understood that.”
Ratcliff thanked his players and other individuals for their support over the past four years.
“I’d like to thank the athletic department and Mr. [Dave] Dietrick for all his support,” Ratcliff said. “He’s a great athletic director to work for. I want to thank my assistant coaches, Amanda Miller and Alyssa Walker and Katie Moberly, and of course my family for allowing me to coach.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the players for playing for me. I will miss that relationship, and I appreciate every single one of them.”
Dietrick also told The Highland County Press that Hillsboro was grateful for Ratcliff’s time as head coach.
"There's so much more than just wins and losses that people don't always understand about coaching," Dietrick said. "Jeremy was always leading with values, teaching the kids to do what's right and what's important. I think all the kids came out better for having played for him."
The Hillsboro High School athletic department released a statement Tuesday that “the athletic department will begin the process of searching for a new girls soccer coach very soon.”
“We would like to thank Jeremy for his dedicated years of service to the Hillsboro student athletes, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors,” the athletic department release said.