ANDOVER – Over 20 years ago, Lyle Morgan remembers being a part of three straight playoff teams as a member of the Andover High boys soccer program. Named the new head coach on Monday, he’s hoping that he can help the Golden Warriors get back to those tournament days.
“We made some good runs. My senior year we moved up from Division 2 to Division 1 and unfortunately, we ran into St. John’s Prep in the opening round, and they let us have it,” he said with a laugh.
After graduating in 1994 as a team captain and a Merrimack Valley All-Conference defender, Morgan took his talents and played for four years at UMass Lowell.
It wasn’t until his two sons, Jake and Alex, started playing that he got involved as a coach. Morgan spent ten years in the Andover youth program and the past six years as part of the AHS staff, the first four as the freshmen coach and the last two as the JV coach.
Morgan replaces Jim Saalfrank, who retired after 16 years compiling an 108-122-59 record, including back-to-back four wins seasons.
Previously Saalfrank last led the Golden Warriors to tournament appearances in 2021 and ’22, losing in the first round. In 2019, he took the No. 16 seed to the Division 1 North sectional semi-finals, beating Haverhill, Lynn English and St. John’s Prep in overtime before losing to Medford.
Morgan said when it comes to coaching, it’s all about preparation and accountability.
“I want my players to be ready regardless of what’s happening within a game,” he said. “It’s good to have individual goals, but it’s more important that the individual goals are never placed in front of our goals as a team because it’s teams that win and not individuals.”
Morgan, who is a physical therapist assistant in Stoneham, can’t wait for tryouts to begin next month.
“These jobs don’t come around all that frequently and I feel that I’ve been lucky to be a part of the staff and when Jimmy decided to retire, I’m glad I was where I was to be able to get this opportunity. I’m ready to go and can’t wait to get these kids going for the season,” he said.