Dear Moon Soccer:

This e-mail has been long overdue to everyone involved with Moon Soccer. As you all know, I have stepped down as the Moon Boys Soccer Coach.  I can honestly say that this move is for ALL the right reasons at this time in my life.  I have been the coach here at Moon since my first daughter was a newborn and now this year she enters high school at the age of 14.  If it were not my incredible family, I would never have been able to coach this team for as long as I did. Their support has truly been unbelievable during this great run and I cannot thank them enough.

With Alexis entering high school soccer this year, and my youngest, Macey, beginning her cup career in the fall, this is the perfect time for me to make sure that I am always there for them.  I just could not physically be at everything this year if I continued to coach.  I also know that it would not be fair to my players if I had to miss a practice or a game here or there.  I have always been 100% committed to coaching our program and would never want to jeopardize it by not being there.

To the parents I say, please keep up your devoted efforts to ensure that our players have everything they need.  You all have been so incredible to me over the years and I cannot thank all of you enough for the support.  I must mention a few people over the years that have really touched me.  Number 1, is the late Ron Oliver.  Ron taught me that there was so much more to coaching than X's and O's in my early career. Ron was a great educator and really showed a "young twenty something" year old what it meant to be a role model, a leader, and a winner.  I wish that more of you could have known him.  As Ron was to the beginning of my career, are the Donaldson's to end of my career.  Jim and Signe, you are everything that Moon soccer stands for.  Your efforts have never gone unnoticed by me.  You both deserve so much more credit than you get.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being great parents in OUR great program.

To my coaches over the years, I say what a great team we made.  Gregg Sprott and I were there at day 1 and we lead that first team to a WPIAL championship.  Incredibly, Willie was on that team, and now it is his turn to lead this program.

Jimmy, without you there by my side for all those years, we would have never have been as successful as we were.  You have done more "behind the scenes" for Moon Soccer than anyone in our program's history. You know how I feel about you and your efforts. You are my third brother and I will always be there for you.

Willie, it is your turn now. You are overqualified. You will do an incredible job. We have spent so much time coaching together over the years.  We have always won. We are a great team. I have said that you are like a brother to me also and I mean that. I will always be there for you no matter what. Take a deep breath and be a great leader. The kids will play their hearts out for you.

To the players I say, please continue to work hard to accomplish your individual goals and your team goals. The tradition of our program must be maintained and this cannot be done without the dedication of our players. I repeat, THE DEDICATION OF OUR PLAYERS. You should feel proud every time you put the uniform on. You represent not only yourself and this year's team, but you also represent everyone who has worn that uniform for the last 25 years.

And now…

My one and only life lesson this 2007 season is really a simple one.  It goes something like this ............................. Change, at the right time for the right reasons, can be a powerful motivator. Do not look back on how it used to be, but look ahead towards a new beginning.

Good luck everyone. Just remember though, that on any given Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday night, you may a spot a guy in the corner of some stadium with a Moon Soccer Sweatshirt cheering his head off for everyone involved on the field.

I guess some things will never change.

Most Sincerely,

Arne