The Union Springs/Port Byron boys varsity soccer program is celebrating a major milestone as longtime head coach Jim Hodges earned his 200th career win last week with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Dryden at home.

For Hodges, who has been a fixture of Union Springs soccer for four decades, the achievement is a testament not only to his success on the field but also to the relationships he has built along the way.

“I have been fortunate to be coaching soccer at my alma mater for 40 years now,” Hodges said. “I started back in 1985 when my high school soccer coach, Mr. Jim Cufari, hired me fresh out of college to be his JV coach. I spent five years learning from terrific varsity coaches like Jim Cufari and Al Loucks before taking over the girls varsity soccer program. Five years later, I made the leap to boys varsity, where I’ve had the privilege of working with some wonderful people over the years.”

In addition to his 27 years as boys varsity head coach, Hodges spent five years coaching JV boys, eight years with the girls varsity program—including three seasons coaching his daughter Joan—and served as coordinator of the Union Springs Soccer Club for 25 years.

Reaching 200 wins, Hodges said, is as much about the people who helped him along the way as it is about the victories themselves.
“200 wins means that I have been around Union Springs Soccer for a long, long time and have been able to do it with an enormous amount of support from a very long list of wonderful people—especially my very patient and understanding wife, Robin,” Hodges reflected. “You can't do this type of work this long without the compassion and cooperation of so many people who are willing to help you out along the way.”

When asked about his favorite memories from his career, Hodges pointed to the growth he’s witnessed in his players and the bonds formed along the way.
“Watching student-athletes grow and become the best version of themselves while learning the game is so gratifying for me,” he said. “Developing so many lifelong relationships with players and opposing coaches is something I will always cherish. Probably the most rewarding experience for me personally would be winning the 2014 Section IV Class B Boys Soccer Championship alongside my son and team captain David. That was a great time to be part of our boys soccer program.”

This year’s squad is off to a strong start at 6-2-0, fresh off winning the annual Jim Cufari Kickoff Classic Soccer Tournament and building momentum for the second half of the season. Hodges believes the team is coming together at just the right time.
“The team is learning how to be a cohesive group of individuals who can achieve success on the soccer field by playing better TOGETHER than their opponents,” Hodges said.

As for what lies ahead, Hodges is focused on the present and enjoying the process.
“At this moment in time, I'm not sure what the future holds for me. I try to take it one day at a time,” he said. “I am enjoying watching this team grow and learn life lessons through their experiences playing high school soccer. I am excited to see where this particular group of student-athletes takes me as a coach this fall. I am still having fun with all of this!”

Union Springs Athletics congratulates Coach Hodges on this milestone victory and thanks him for his decades of dedication to the game, his players, and the community.