December 6, 2022 at 7:04 a.m.
Bates goes out on top with boys' soccer team
Bates goes out on top with boys' soccer team
Bates presided over his final act as boys coach, hosting the team's year-end banquet at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom.
The event was the culmination of a successful season, and youth soccer career, for this year's team. Bates started coaching many of the players on this year's team at the U8 level and followed them up through the ranks, taking over as the high school boys' soccer coach to start the 2019 season after longtime head coach Dan Millot retired.
"I'm proud of all of you guys," Bates said at Wednesday's banquet, pausing to collect his emotions. "This is tough for me. You guys have been like family to me for a long time and this is my last awards ceremony with you guys and my last time as your coach. It's been a great run. Thank you guys for all these years. Players, parents, it's been a helluva time and thank you guys for everything you've done for me and these kids. I'm going to miss you guys very much. Thank you guys."
The evening was full of plenty of hugs, tears and gratitude shared between the coaches, players and their parents.
"You guys made this all possible and the fact that we were able to go to state was just an extension of what you did for all of us," senior captain Charlie Heck said, addressing Bates and the rest of the coaching staff.
"It's tough. They've been more of a family to me than anything," Bates said. "These kids, they're in my house. They're calling me. I'm friends with their parents. They've been a family for a long time. We've spent a lot of time together at tournaments all summer long since they were little kids. This is tough for me. It's really tough for me because they became part of my life, a big part of it."
Bates was 32-20-17 in four years as coach. Rhinelander won the Great Northern Conference title under Bates in 2020.
The Hodags finished tied for second this year before a Cinderella run to state that included penalty-kick victories over Lakeland, Medford and Rice Lake.
The Hodags fell to No. 1 seed and eventual state runner-up Notre Dame Academy, 2-1 in a rain-plagued state semifinal Nov. 4 in Milwaukee.
"At the end of the day, we were lucky enough to have coach Bates for the years we did," RHS activities director Brian Paulson said, adding that Bates has done an incredible job with the program. "I think it's just the culture that coach Bates created - an environment for those kids to succeed and making those kids accountable. I think the kids' reactions and how they speak to coach and how they interact with him shows the appreciation of him being their coach, doing the things above and beyond."
Bates said he intends to stay on as head Hodag girls' soccer coach, as he has a daughter currently coming through the program. He will enter his third season at the helm of the girls' team, where the Hodags have a 20-13-3 record over the past two seasons.
"We're lucky enough to have him staying on as the girls' coach," Paulson said. "I know the girls' really respect coach Bates and he puts his heart and soul into all the kids that he's coaching. I'm glad he's still going to be around because he's an influence, no matter what sport they're in."
Bates' son, Landon, started defensively for the Hodag football team this fall as a junior and Nathan Bates said the time was right to step aside to enjoy his son's upcoming senior season.
"I want to enjoy watching all of his games and not missing any of his events and be able to spend some time with him his senior year," he said. "I told these boys I promised I'd stick with them until the end and I did. We accomplished a goal this year that we set out a long time ago. I figured what better time to go out than on a high note."
Bates mentioned at the banquet that his three assistant coaches - John Weigel, Adam Wiese and Morgan Voigt - intend to stay on with the team.
"John and Adam and them, they're going to take good care of the kids and do a good job with the program," he said. "I've been coaching with Adam a long time and John a long time. They're as dedicated to the program and the kids. They're not in it for being the coach. They're in it to improve the kids lives and help them with life lessons and be a friend to them on top of it."
Bates strongly endorsed Weigel to take the reins as head coach, though Paulson said the hiring process for Bates' replacement has yet to formally take place.
"The job has to open up," Paulson said, noting that position will be posted in the coming weeks. "I know coach Bates would really like to see John Weigel be the next coach. He thinks he has the ability, he understands these kids, he's been with these kids a long time with Bates. I know he'd really like to see John be the next head coach. We'll open the position up for candidates and then we will hold interviews if we have multiple candidates."
For his part, Weigel said continuity would be a major benefit, if he's officially named to the position.
"Nate stepping down is a huge thing, but they have a good core group of coaches still sticking with them," he said. "We have a great team coming back. We have a bunch of good seniors (to be) that were starting varsity plays and a bunch of younger kids that will step up into those shoes. I'm looking forward to it. It should be a great year."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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