The Coaches - April 11, 2026

·1 hr 54 min·5 clips

A high school soccer coach shares that only one of his 50 college-bound players focused solely on soccer, advocating for multi-sport participation.

The episode is a weekly local sports talk show broadcast from Signature Toyota in Benton Harbor. Host Fred Smith fills in for Phil McDonald, who is practicing for the Blossom Time Festival. The show opens with a rundown of local high school sports scores from baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, golf, and track and field. Sponsors include Signature Dealer Group, United Federal Credit Union, and Colby's Landscaping, with free treats from Sandra K Bakery. The first guest is Cal Pauly, head baseball coach at Lake Michigan College. Pauly discusses his team's 13-13 record, their conference standing, and the challenges of a condensed schedule with 11 games in seven days. He highlights the importance of pitching recruitment and the college's turf field, which is the only one in Michigan junior colleges. Pauly explains how the on-campus dorms aid recruiting, even attracting a player from Arizona. He also touches on scholarship limits, the Michigan Community College Athletic Association structure, and the misconception about junior college eligibility counting toward NCAA limits. After a break, the second guest is Brian Samuel, Lakeshore High School girls soccer coach. Samuel, in his 17th season, notes the increased technical skill and physicality in girls' soccer. He discusses the competitive SMAC conference, where Lakeshore is the smallest school, and his non-conference scheduling philosophy. Samuel names key players like goalkeeper Sophie De La Ferea and attacker Hannah Reeser. He emphasizes that most of his college-bound players were multi-sport athletes, using the example of Dylan Singh, who played professional soccer after being a basketball reserve. Samuel describes the team's training, film review, and the advantages of Lakeshore's turf fields donated by the Cone and Lehman families. The final guest is Robert Cuba, the new head football coach at Benton Harbor High School. Cuba, a first-time head coach, shares his background from Grand Rapids Christian High School to college coaching stints. He aims to restore stability and Tiger pride after multiple coaching changes. Cuba discusses implementing a spread offense and a 4-3 defense, focusing on trust and structure. He talks about weight room attendance, multi-sport participation, and the challenges of filling an independent schedule. Cuba expresses excitement about the community and his long-term commitment to rebuilding the program. The episode concludes with upcoming local events and sponsor reminders.

As heard by us

A Lakeshore soccer coach ties 28 years of varsity work to teaching, family, and a crowded Michigan spring calendar.

Fred Smith hosts The Coaches Show from Signature Toyota in Benton Harbor, with sponsor notes, food talk, and baseball scores giving the episode a distinctly local start before it settles into its main conversation.

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Why you'd press play

You want Lakeshore soccer, local scoreboard notes, and a community fundraiser story with cookies on the side.

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