by Tiara Pajimola
After a year of many decisions and a final choice to resign, men’s head soccer coach Sean Bushéy has been selected as The Whitworthian Coach of the Year by The Whitworthian sports staff. Last fall, Bushéy led the men’s soccer team to a 16-3-3 season culminating with their eighth Northwest Conference title and seventh appearance in the NCAA tournament.
“This season ended up being one of my most enjoyable,” Bushéy said. “We came together so quickly after having lost so many starters from the previous season; it was awesome to witness. It was fun to be a part of and it was fun to see their success.”
Having lost seven starters and a total of nine seniors the previous year in 2011, coming together as a team was an accomplishment, junior Sam Selisch said.
“Everyone worked together, no one disliked each other and we all got along,” Selisch said. “We’re so personal with each other and we hang out all the time on and off the field.”
Bushéy’s way of coaching this team went noticed by his players.
“He helped our chemistry,” Selisch said. “I’ve never been on a team as close as this one and I think that played a part in our success this year. There’s something about that brotherhood of working hard and going through the same things; you feel for each other. The uniqueness of this team is the togetherness of it.”
Bushéy’s success on and off the field may be well-known but something that people may not be aware of is his impact on his players, freshman Samual Jarrett said.
“It goes beyond soccer,” Jarrett said. “He’s so inspirational and he has so much experience that can be learned as life lessons. He’s going to be missed in more ways than just a soccer coach.”
Jarrett agreed that the makeup of this team and their immediate togetherness was a main contributor to their success.
“We’re all about improving each other; no one is selfish,” Jarrett said. “Everything we do is for the better of each other. We push each other and really the main focus is moving forward as a team.”
Bushéy is known for his enthusiasm and passion about the game and about his players.
“If there’s one word for it; it’d be passionate,” Jarrett said. “He loves seeing us improve and if we’re not doing it right on the field the first time, he’s passionate to make us do it right the next time.”
Selisch echoed Jarret’s sentiments.
“It’s the same passion for everything and he’s always on point,” Selisch said. “He has enthusiasm on the sidelines and he always lets us know where we’re supposed to be. He just pushed us so hard and I love that about a coach. He never gives up.”
Perhaps one of his most commendable actions this season was during their final home game against Whitman. Bushéy checked in his second team with the confidence that they’d do the job just the same.
“You could tell he was confident and we were too,” Selisch said. “The whole team was brought together in that moment; no one person stood out, the team stood out. We were all there.”
For Bushéy, winning and losing was always extra. His favorite memories simply happened when he was around his players and around soccer.
“We watched Barcelona together in Robinson Teaching Theatre during training camp. We began the tradition of singing the Barcelona anthem. To hear the team belt it out was moving…it is one of the things that happens off the field that is pretty neat,” Bushéy said. “Certainly going to the NCAA tournament is always special and just watching how we played and performed at the climax of our season and though we lost, we played soccer; Whitworth men’s soccer. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”
Bushéy will end his career at Whitworth with 17 successful years as the men’s head soccer coach under his belt. With eight NWC crowns, seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, and a culminating record of 209-86-35, Bushéy is a well-deserved Whitworth Coach of the Year.
Contact Tiara Pajimola at tpajimola16@my.whitworth.edu