By Kyle Grew, Contributing Reporter.
Paul Stenglein, leaves his house in Frankenmuth, and finds his way back to the place where he started his academic career: Delta College.
Stenglein, who graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from MSU, is in his fifth year as head coach of the Lady Pioneers soccer team.
The normal day-to-day life of Stenglein during the fall season is similar to the spring as he has been the girls soccer coach for Frankenmuth High school for 19 years. He has accumulated a resume that would make coaches in the area jealous.
Stenglein is a three time recipient of the Division III High School Coach of the Year award. His 333 wins include 14 conference titles, 12 district championships and three regional championships. Success is seemingly unavoidable for Coach Stenglein.
All of the awards have afforded him the chance to coach here at Delta, however, coaching is not where Stenglein’s relationship with the school began. Before he was an engineer, an MSU grad and a coach of the year, he was a young man in the mid ‘70s walking the halls of Delta College. That’s what makes his story a little more special for Stenglein. In his words, it’s a blessing to coach.
“It’s good to be back home again at Delta,” said Stenglein
Altrough Steinglein has had success on the field, off the field is where he has made himself proudest. Stenglein says he will always be a father and husband first. He has been happily married to his wife Vicki for over 35 years and has two children: Jeff and Heather. Family has always been the most important aspect of his life and that’s why he always strives to make his team feel like a family. Every woman on his team is like a daughter to him. He believes he has found success because he has learned that with coaching girls it’s “very relational.”
“They just want to know on or off the field that they are valued regardless of the results of the games,” said Stenglein. That is something that he strives to do every year.
He travels hundreds of hours in a week and gives up valuable family time each season. If you ever ask why he does it, he’ll give you a very simple answer. “Because I love it.” It is that love and passion that has kept him coaching and winning.
