This week we continue our “Why I Coach” series with the head coaches of Bates men’s and women’s soccer: Tyler Sheikh and Joe Vari!

In 2019, his second season as head coach of men's soccer at Bates, Tyler Sheikh led the Bobcats to a 9-6-1 record, the program's most since 2008. That included a 5-4-1 record in the NESCAC, tying for the team’s most conference victories since 2000. That followed an 8-7 record in his debut season at Bates in 2018.

2019 was Joe Vari’s first at the helm of the Bates women’s soccer program after he led the University of Puget Sound to the NCAA tournament in 2018. He talks about how he first got into coaching and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.