Bobby Muuss is the Head Men’s Soccer Coach with Wake Forest University.  Wake Forest is a NCAA DI institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Wake Forest is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference or the ACC along with schools like Clemson, North Carolina State, University of Pittsburgh and University of Virginia.

Coach Muuss will be entering his 6th season with the Men’s program at Wake in 2020.  He has coached at the DI level for his long, exciting career with stops at UCONN and University of Denver. He also played at DII program, Southern Connecticut State and was a part of their National Championship Team. His coaching career has also seen much success as he’s coached athletes to All American Honors, Academic All American Honors, MLS drafted players NCAA appearances, Conference Championships and ACC Coach of the Year Awards.  

My conversation with Coach Muuss was both entertaining and inspirational. Bobby talks with me about his coaching career and all the challenges and rewards that come with the territory. Those rewards definitely outweigh any challenges and he feels that his team is an extension of his family and very important to building the culture of his teams. We also chat about some tips for athletes to stay mentally engaged and healthy during this uncertain time. He shares some physical tips, but talks about how the mental health of the athletes takes precedence. Bobby also dives into some very helpful tips on how to keep the recruiting process rolling along with some Dos and Don’ts. After sharing some stories about his teams and the success from 2019 season, Bobby and I talk “Mount Rushmore” where he shares his Top 4 Soccer players of all time. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with Coach Muuss as I think you’ll enjoy what he has to say.

Coach:

Bobby Muuss: Head Men’s Soccer Coach with Wake Forest University.

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Topic 1: How Can Athletes Stay Mentally Engaged and Healthy During COVID-19:

Coach Muuss talks about the importance of mental health during these uncertain times and how athletes can stay mentally healthy. He also touches on some tips to stay physically healthy and how those two go hand in hand.

Topic 2: How Did Coach Muuss Get into Coaching and Move to Wake Forest?

Coach Muuss shares his coaching background with us and how he gained experience with every program he’s been apart of, and from the coaches that he’s worked with throughout his career.  He shares his experiences starting at UConn and how he has come back to Wake Forest after being an assistant coach in years prior.

Topic 3: What Are Some Challenges with College Coaching?

Coach Muuss talks about how having bad games and bad seasons has been a challenge and how self reflection and questioning is key for the process - this is something he continues to do, as it helps tremendously. Another challenge is to take over a program and keep with tradition, while being true to himself and his coaching style.

Topic 4: What Makes Coaching so Rewarding?

During this clip, Bobby talks about all the things that make coaching so rewarding which always outweighs the challenges. He shares a cool story about having his team over for Easter every year. He enjoys when a player reaches out to him talking about this times and appreciating those moments. He also shares a heartwarming story about how his team came together for one of their players during a time of need, as it was a positive memory he holds. 

Topic 5: 2019 Season Recap: 

Coach Muuss talks about his most recent season and the challenges and adversity that the team had faced that year, as well as how they were able to overcome those adversities to have a successful season. He shares some cool stories and memories with us.

Topic 6: What Makes a Team Successful: Mental Toughness or Talent?

After sharing what made his 2019 team so special, Bobby talks about what makes a team successful. He emphasizes that the mental side of the game can really make or break a team.

Topic 7: Tips for Athletes on the Recruiting Process:

Coach Muuss shares his thoughts on how athletes can stay prepared in the recruiting process by staying active, and communicating with coaches. He also offers up some fun Dos and Don’ts that athletes and parents alike can learn from. 

Topic 8: Coach Muuss’ Mount Rushmore of Soccer:

Bobby laughs about his unusual Mount Rushmore of Soccer and why he chose his Top 4: Jurgen Klopp, Zidane, Kasey Keller, Croix.

Coach Muuss isn't afraid to tackle adversity, and will do anything in his power as a coach to lead his athletes to triumph. 

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Full Transcript:

Jess Gregory  

All right, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me today I am with Coach Bobby Muuss over at Wake Forest men soccer. How are we doing today, Bobby?

Bobby Muuss  

We're doing well. Thanks for having me.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, thanks for joining me there. I see the lovely background looks like it's nice and sunny out by you.

Bobby Muuss  

Oh, yeah, that's my I wish I was out at the stadium right now. And I wish there was some players behind me But obviously, unfortunate circumstances.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, we are kind of all stuck at home now. How are things out by you? You guys guys hanging in there while you're at home?

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, we're doing our best. I think it's a trying to make the best of a of a unique situation for everybody. Not just, you know, myself and our program but everybody across the world. So it's, uh, we're doing as good as we can do right now.

Jess Gregory  

Well, that's good to hear. It is a new normal, so we just gotta get used to it and do our best I think.

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, sir. Yeah, it's, uh, I hope it's not the new it's it's a temporary new normal. We like to call it I don't want this to be a long term new normal.

Jess Gregory  

Fingers crossed.

Bobby Muuss  

Yes, yes.

Jess Gregory  

Already Well, I'd like to jump in and kind of learn more about you as a coach, I know that you have a really cool and long coaching career. So I'd love to hear how you got started and how it led you to Wake Forest.

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, I mean, yeah, I don't know if we have enough time but no mine actually because I didn't have I don't maybe don't have as many stops as maybe some other coaches. I started young. I played at Southern Connecticut State University and my head coach was reread there and with a great staff john Daly. George key for Brian Quinn, when I was there, and I liked the game, I think at that point, and I'd say probably at that point, I loved it, but I love it now. I think looking back at it, I probably liked it, but I had an injury there which put me out for a long time and then my love for the game and being away from it increased and then coach Reed actually got the job at the University of Connecticut. So he left and so made a decision. I stayed at Southern for a semester but he asked me to come Come on to a staff and transfer to the University of Connecticut to finish my academic career there but start my coaching career and it was one of those I'm like, well this is an opportunity to better myself and, and my academics as well. And you know and to obviously follow some of that I had great respect for and the main reason that I went to Southern is because of that staff and they all went to UConn so he took a chance on me and in the four years that I was there learn so much you know, in a different aspect of just playing for Coach now learning about the game and that's where I think I really started picking up the passion that this is something that I wanted to do so I was doing my coaches licenses, like I missed my graduation from my see my see license, which was interesting. I made a decision that given up the social aspect and trying to be a working professional at that point, but stay there for four years I collected my degree. And then the opportunity came where coach bit of itch gave me an opportunity to be the assistant here at Wake Forest. And that was something obviously never been down south, being in New York person and an opportunity of a lifetime, which, you know, I never thought as an assistant that I'd be back to being a head coach. But I was there at Wake Forest for six years. And then University of Denver called and gave me the opportunity to lead my first program at the University of Denver and I was there for eight seasons, and in tremendous opportunity for me to learn, experience, make a lot of mistakes, but grow from those mistakes and continue to grow and get better. And then what a little over five years ago, I was offered the opportunity to come back to Wake Forest to lead the program here and you know, full of truly blessed and hopefully we've made the most of the opportunity since we returned. So that's my, that's the, the short version of it. Nice.

Jess Gregory  

I like the short or the long, whatever you want. Well, that was a great story. I loved hearing about your coaching background and kind of how you got started and again, it does sound like you've had a really long awesome career. Can you share some of the most challenging parts of coaching that you've had since you've been coaching for so long?

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah. Uh, there's a lot of challenges. I think I you as long as you learn from them, you know, I look at them as positives now But even as a young head coach bad see As a challenge, you know, I had to five win seasons where I think it molds the person that I am right now. And probably after my first one, I probably didn't make a lot of good decisions. You know, probably pointing fingers and blaming. Why is it you know, why is this happening to me? I'm doing this right. But then you really have to reflect about it and say, Where did I, you know, where was my leadership wrong, both on and off the field. And I do think, two seasons I had at the University of Denver that were challenging and really makes you question, Is this what you want to do? Is it worth it? Because I tell people all the time, the winds are not nearly as high as the lows are low. And it's, uh, and sometimes maybe as coaches I think in most, most coaches, we probably don't celebrate the highs as much as maybe we should. And I've been even reading something and going working with somebody personally, and it's like, that celebration is a discipline and I think I missed out on the celebration. Cuz I just wanted more. So now I'm just trying to learn how to celebrate more the things that are worth celebrating and trying make making sure the lows aren't as low as they once were and trying to find positives and those but that's been a struggle. I think the since being back at Wake Forest, the biggest challenge that I've had is to take over a program with great history. Yeah. And follow on one of the best coaches, you know me that I've ever been around and coach Davidovich, and I think it's a, that's been a challenge, because you need to make it yours in some way, but honor through the tradition and the culture that he has created for so many years, and the players of the past I've created for so many years. Luckily I was a small piece of that. And I understood what some of the traditions were and were able to continue on some of those. But I also think the biggest challenge as a young head coach is you have these influences in your life and you really have to be you and I like learn that, you know, the hardware at Denver I was trying to be Ray Reed, a Bobby Muuss, a Jay Vidavich these people that impact my life, but I wasn't me. And I think that that's probably the biggest challenge is coming back is honoring and respecting the tradition and the legacy that coach had in the culture, but then trying to put your own stamp on it, because you have to walk a fine line because it's not like my way of the highway because, you know, their way was actually quite good as well. And I think that is a that is something that I'll always, you know, pay respect to. Because I this was not an empty cupboard when I got here, you know, a lot of talent with a lot of history and we just wanted to the pressure to try to keep that thing moving in the right direction is what drives me every day.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, absolutely. Um, that is definitely a unique situation because a lot of times when someone takes over a program, maybe they're struggling and so you're just trying to build them back up. When you take over a program that already has a lot of history, and kids are used to who they had There can be that challenge there for sure to kind of get them on board and start your own culture.

Bobby Muuss  

And two totally different things. And that was similar when I got to Denver, you know, there was a lot of things, a lot of areas for improvement. Here, you know, it just a different personality, you needed to bring different things, I guess. And it was important that I brought my own personality about respecting the past, and I probably probably upset some people along the way, but it was definitely not intentionally,

Jess Gregory  

right. Yeah, for sure. Um, Now obviously, there are some challenges, but I'm sure there are a lot of rewards, especially kind of going from from different programs and being able to help out different kids. So what are some of those rewards for you in your career?

Bobby Muuss  

Sometimes you have to sit back and really because, again, the lows impacted you thinking about the losses, maybe you're thinking about someone that you've been trying to mentor for so long and takes a couple of steps back before he moves forward. But they're all great. I think graduate, seeing kids reach their goals where you put on an MLS game you see guys coming on for their first appearance, or I was rewarded last night something that you don't expect. It just got a random text yesterday from a former player from a long time ago. And just wanted to say thank you Easter was a big holiday for me and a man of faith and a family of faith. But ever since I've been a head coach, I've always had guys over for Easter. I'm in this was a very unique Easter was first time I didn't have my team over. But an alumni from the University of Denver just says thinking about you on Easter where you open up your doors to me. Those are the little tiny rewards that you get the bigger ones obviously trophies and celebrations and I would probably say one of the biggest rewards this season. We had an incredible run and made it to the national semi final but the day after the quarterfinal game, one of our seniors that was graduating in a couple of weeks. Wanted to get baptized at our local church here that He's been going to since he's been here and Winston, and invited myself and the team to go and we just won the quarterfinal game, right. And we're on the field, it's 10 o'clock at night, and it's celebration time. And I invited the team to be a part of that at 9am on a Sunday morning. And to be fair, we had three quarters of our team and our entire staff there to celebrate that baptism. So if you talk about like the celebration and the highs and the rewards, that was probably the most rewarding thing that I've experienced in my coaching career in the last five to 10 years for sure, you know, better than any trophy. And then the other rewards is that I get an opportunity to I do believe I coach a really good group of young men on a yearly basis. And they're, they positively impact my children. My children love being around the team and my son will be four on Thursday, but a four and five I guess you want to call them a boy and a girl. And for them the way they've warmed up to the team and wanting to be around them is something that gives me great joy. So that's, uh, you know, and I'm happy that I'm, you know, I have a good group of kids that can actually positively influence my children. So that's been of late. That's been a really change in the way. I feel rewarded on a daily basis.

Jess Gregory  

That's amazing. Yeah, a lot of times coaches and kids talk about how their, their college team or even their club or high school team is their family. So it sounds like you really do have that family culture where, you know, you guys support each other and your kids can be involved which, which makes it nice

Bobby Muuss  

know it's a big part everything on all our walls and everything. It's development and family and big letters and our alumni support that we have here is is incredible. is incredible. And it's a we do we use that word not we don't take that word lightly. Mm hmm.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, as you shouldn't it sounds like it's working for you. So should keep going on with that. Yeah, I'm gonna try. Yeah. Now speaking of that, you mentioned that you guys had a great season this past year. I'd love to hear about how that season went and kind of, you know, your favorite parts of that if you could just share a fun story with us.

Bobby Muuss  

I just that was my favorite part of the season. I just told you that part. So I double dip But no, I think it's a unique season for us. 15 and six, I think 15 six and two or something. And some people would say that, oh, we had an up and down year because we lost. You know, two of those losses were postseason one in the ACC tournament and one in the national semifinal. And I think that it goes to show the expectations that not only that we have for our program, but the expectations that come from, you know, college soccer and the college soccer community that that was not a great season, it was an up and down season where you have six losses. So and in the previous seasons, if you have one or two or three losses, they feel a little bit better. But the fact that we made a semi final I think the change for me going into the postseason if we want to talk about that. Like two stories is there was a light switch that went on. I mean, we dealt with a lot of adversity this year, you know, or go or starting goalkeeper and our captain Andre Kasich was out for the entire year. Didn't see that come in at the beginning with a concussion, and then center midfielders out for the first three or four games. You know, our right back from the spring was out for the year. And as we got into it, you know our captain are right back Alistair's first round draft pick missed a couple of games with a concussion, just a lot of little things that people didn't realize that we had to deal with. Even going into the NCAA tournament, the first before the second round. Our captain Joey desert, got vertigo, and I've never seen a player like this like just lost this way could walk he was in tears, and we had to play the first two games without him and a big piece of what we're doing. We lost two of our key attacking players, the last regular season game and the ACC tournament to ACLs. So it's right before the NCAA tournament, this mentality Have the group really changed and our mentality as a staff saying we want to do more, we want to push him harder. We want to try to prepare him for the worst case scenario from from the physical grind to the mental grind. And the guys were bought in and really we talked about if we can keep that mentality going in the future how much better we can be so I do think is they made a decision and you want to talk about a reward as a coach where I feel my guys motivate me more than I motivate them. By the work they put in the want that they have to be successful both on and off the field. That was a pretty cool story where we went from a lot of teams where we lost this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy's not playing. We looked at our draw, we had Maryland in our like, we like the defending national champion in the second round of the NCAA tournament and we were the number three seed overall and number two, it was crazy. So but they they really made To decision and it made my life extremely easy in the postseason. Yeah, absolutely.

Jess Gregory  

Now that kind of makes me wonder what your thoughts are on then what made that team successful? And it sounds like it was their their mental toughness that you've added on? Can you just kind of add on to that a little bit? Because I always like to ask coaches what makes a team most successful their talent or their mental toughness? So I'm, I'm thinking that it's the mental toughness. But what can you add on to that?

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, I think it goes hand in hand. I think every I don't think my group gets probably enough respect for the mental toughness piece. And we challenge them every day, we say we want them to make more decisions. We want them to fail more in training, you know, in those sessions, so then the games are easier, and the games aren't necessarily going to be easier physically, but the games will be easier mentally, and just really challenging. But it's space if it's numbers, just really challenging their decisions and the reason being, but at don't think people realize is if you're ranked high, right? The expectations that are put on you, where you don't have anything to win on that day, you only have something to lose and then you play against the team that has everything to gain and nothing to lose. That is a really mentally difficult thing to do. Think about our Tuesday games. This is where we get high seeds in the NCAA tournament and set ourselves up for success is our midweek games are the hardest games. That doesn't mean the team has more talent or as much talent as playing Carolina, Clemson, you know, Duke on the weekends, it's just the the mental grind where you sit through class all day, right? Maybe that team's you know, in a hotel, and they have everything to gain and not a lot to lose, and we have this ranking and this expectation where the game should be easier, we should win. And if we lose, there's a lot more talk about us losing than there is about us winning. And I think that mental grind for a long period of time for today. three games a week really plays a toll on these guys. So we try to keep the mood lighter. We try to look at positives, we say, either we win the game or lose the game. We're just learning all the time. And, but they're the way they pursue, you know, their craft. It's not easy to play at this level of expectation. So I would say, especially this year, the mental side of the game was, you know, far beyond the tactical side of the game or the physical side of the game for me.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, absolutely. I might be a little biased just because that's kind of what I studied in school and got my master's in was working with, you know, sports psychology with athletes. So I love to hear coaches point of view on that and see if they think it's the talent or the mental side. And most of you guys do say that the mental toughness has a lot to do with it. So that's great to hear. Now, you did mention earlier that you had a lot of adversity this past year. It's not exactly the same but it's He comes in all kinds of different ways. So right now these kids are stuck at home. So this is something they need to overcome. They've lost out on their spring season. They can't take video or have coaches come out. Do you have any tips for them and how they can stay mentally active during this time so that when they get back out on the field, they're ready to go?

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, from a from a youth soccer perspective, it goes along with the college soccer perspective, I've been really harping upon my guys in terms of that's not feel bad for ourselves that soccer is taken away from us number one, because there's a lot more things taken away from a lot more people. And this is just very small. You know, we think this is so important, but in the big picture of life, there's a lot more important things going on. So just put it in perspective, I think helps. But obviously there's everybody has different situations. different cities and towns have different things. Can you go out to a field can you train can you run? I do think doing something Continue your physical fitness. So then your mental fitness is there as well, where you're not dwelling and being depressed because you're not doing something even for myself, I'm working out more than I ever have. Not because I have the times because I need that distraction, to say, when I'm done with this, I'm going to come out better. And I think that's my biggest motivation for my guys. It may not be from a technical aspect, it may not be even from a physical aspect. But what are you doing to come out of this better? So we're trying to really harp upon your self discipline, setting up structure and time management, these are the things that are going to make you be a successful student athlete. If you have the opportunity to move on the next there's going to be a lot of people that come out of this situation behind where they went in, and then there's going to be a lot of people that are going to come out of this situation much better because of it. And that doesn't always have to be technically, you know, remain it could be um, you know, how long How are you dealing with this mentally? You know, what are you doing for your self development? Are you reading more? Um, you know, I've encouraged my guys journaling, just to document what they're doing and going through this situation, to meditation, to yoga, anything they could do to come through this a little bit better. You know what I mean? And that's my motivation for all young players. I did a video for our young youth team the other day and practice positivity, you know what I mean, trying to be more joyful, instead of these situations impacting Yes, it's going to impact our happiness, but you can't impact if we're just positive people. And I think that most people at the end of this are going to look for the positives and what we took from this young kids that are expecting to go to college and could be seniors or even juniors right now. This is the most amount of time that you'll spend with your family, probably the rest of your life. Mm hmm. So and I know when I was in that I want to go, go, go. But now as you're going, what I would do to be able to be back in that situation. At that age and experiencing and spending time with my loved ones, we have kids that are home now that have spent more time at home during this warranty, and they have in their entire time while they were in college. So enjoy it, but continue to take steps forward and try to develop. Yeah, I love that. It's definitely about perspective and what you take and run with it. And I don't think it's necessarily bad if kids take the time to kind of catch their breath and, and do some journaling. But then also get that routine going so that you're not going from zero to 60. Once you are back out on the field. I think the hardest, no one really knows what they're preparing for. So even from a fitness perspective, if you knew you had a game in two weeks, there's a progression to get to that game, but the unknowns, you know, so I would, I would say our maintenance in terms of our physical aspects, you know, maintaining maybe getting stronger, a little bit fitter if you have the resources to do that. But you know, here and inside, what are we doing to continue to develop so it We do have a month, you're going to be that much more ready. You know, from the mental side of things. I do think there's a lot more important things here. And just the soccer part of it, and this this time of self reflection and self development.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, absolutely. I'm now going with that same same kind of topic here. What are some things that kids can do to stay on the recruiting process so that they don't kind of fall behind there as well?

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, it's interesting. We ask ourselves the same way as coaches, what can we do to continue the recruiting process? You know, obviously, emails and videos are always helpful. Every every college program has a different process on how they really manage that or use those. So there's, there's a certain point where it's too much like, we get emails now I know no one's playing you. And I mean, I don't need an email to explain that you're not playing. If you are, I'd have some really big questions where you were playing wrong and if it was a But no, I just think is, if you had communication with a program not allowing that to stop, you know, and if it has stopped, you know, almost you can inquire why that has stopped, you know what I mean? And just really take ownership of it. You know, I think some people are in that in between in terms of camps and what's going to be allowed to have happened, what's not going to be, I think asking those questions, okay, and being proactive. You know, probably obviously targeting targeting later in the summer, but I do think those, this could be an opportunity where you never had time to put together an educated highlight video, and where you just throw in scraps in or you send in a half, but okay, you know, take a little bit more time and do your due diligence to try to put the best information you possibly can out to coaches. Mm hmm.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, that's great. Um, now, when I think about all of those tips, those are fantastic. I want kids to stay proactive. I want them to keep reaching out, even if they're, you know, the younger Kids that all they can do is say, Hey, I'm still I'm still here, you know? I mean, because you guys do you have any kind of fun do's and don'ts after all these years of getting recruiting emails? Anything that you would say, let's not do this or this is definitely something that's, that's awesome and catches my attention.

Bobby Muuss  

I think yes and no, I there's some things that catch my attention like in the title playing world class, you know, or the next Messi you know, I don't know how much that helps. In terms of now you're looking at it like, you know that I don't know if that's the greatest thing in the world, that mentality, especially coming into a program like mine, like that would be humbled quickly. The big thing for me and I think it's a lot of people say it is just the parental side of it. On the email where this really gets me well first off, I'll go back to this is the Misspelling of mine or someone in the staff name or the copy and paste job where I'm really interested in, you know, school x, but that's not my school. You know, they're right into Wake Forest, but then they put another school's name in there, I think that is just showing that you're just trying to mass produce emails, you know, and you're not really putting the time in that way. Those are like the those are the mistakes most likely I would have made rushing through things and not you know, not doing the due diligence. But the AI going back to the parent part is obviously I still think no matter how old young man is, or young woman, I think it's their place to do this. They're the ones picking the school. The emails that come from parents is one thing and but the emails that say I am writing on behalf of Johnny, he would be doing it but he's extremely busy right now between club soccer and you know, and school stop. You just lost all credibility because they're going to be a heck of a lot more busy in college. And if they can't do that in high school, How in the world are they going to be able to do that, especially with the expectations that we have for them. So, those are those are the some of the probably the don'ts. I do think the do's are if you can connect the university, the coaching staff, in some ways, personally, I had an email and I don't want to get a bunch of emails now from people like this now, but where it is, you know, just someone maybe it's an Instagram follower of mine, or maybe it's follow me on Instagram and says, you know, you know, I'm, you know, I'm very respectful that you you're a coach, but you're outspoken about your faith and you know, and then like, so how can I just delete that email? You don't mean like that was that that that struck me? Or the other one is I know you're from East Islip, New York and I played for so and so that went to school with you and where you you do a little bit of a research, you know, or my coach played at Wake Forest or my coach played with Coach armrests are one of the staff. How can you connect it to where you look at it a little bit closer and you go well Is that club worth the phone call? Is that club worth watching? Play is that you know and it doesn't always work out that way right? I mean someone that from my hometown doesn't mean that I'm going to go watch and play but I may do a little bit more research on them if that makes sense.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, absolutely. I've definitely liked when athletes would send an email and kind of know a little bit more like hey I went to your high school or you know I coach from from here and spelling My name correctly was also very helpful

Bobby Muuss  

I got made fun of on an alumni call now it's they rushed me there was a group of guys having a like just a banter chat on Saturday. Coach join in these are the old alumni week when I was in the system and I didn't have zoom on my phone but they sent it to my phone. So I logged in real quick just put your name in. And as soon as I got in, I spelt my last name wrong. And they're like you're the head coach away course you can do is spell your own name. So I had to log off get on my computer. So my name was spelt. Right. So that's that's me rushing through it.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, exactly. Oh, that's hilarious. All right now I I kinda want to switch gears a little bit I want to ask you one final question that I thought would just be fun to kind of hear your thoughts on it. Um, so if you had to pick your Mount Rushmore of soccer players and that would be just your top four all time favorite players. Could you name those for for us

Bobby Muuss  

Does it have to be players?

Jess Gregory  

Um, yeah, I was saying they were players if you if you have an all time favorite coach, I'll take that too.

Bobby Muuss  

Yeah, well, first off, I mean, I say all time favorites just because now and but I'm a love Liverpool. So Jurgen Klopp would be up there just for what he's done for the club. Even for me with his energy and his passion for the game and you see the way he relates to his players arm it just seems like there's a there's a really special bond. That sounds like I'm getting emotional. I'm not but sometimes I do when I talk about him, but it's a there's a special bond that he has with his players. And for any coach to say they don't want that. I think would be ridiculous. Zidane I think from a player perspective, just now the eloquence and just how the ease of his game and that was like, you know one of mine I know Mount Rushmore i think is in terms of legendary players, I probably get made fun of a little bit, but the way he influenced me as a young player was former national team goalkeeper, Kasey Keller. I mean, I even went I went with the long haired mullet like he had as well because I wanted to be like him so bad and he drove me to love the sport. And then I would probably say just I wasn't as much in terms of the video in the perspective of it, but Croix just on what he's done, not only as a player, but as a coach in the ways influenced so many of the world's best coaches in the world. That's probably a little bit of a mix between players and coaches. I'm not saying Casey Keller was the best player in the world, but most influential for me being a goalkeeper.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, absolutely. Hey, this is your Mount Rushmore. So whoever up there, we'll take it.

Bobby Muuss  

I don't know how many other people are gonna have Kasey Keller on their Mount Rushmore, but but I have him on mine.

Jess Gregory  

Yeah, well, we'll find out. We'll just have to keep asking if anyone else picks him too. But all right, coach. Well, I really appreciate you sitting down and chatting with me today. I've learned a lot more about you. And hopefully the kids have learned some great things too, as well as tips and all of the things that you've shared with us. So I appreciate you sitting down and thank you for that.

Bobby Muuss  

Thank you for having me and stay safe and be well

Transcribed by https://otter.ai