Joe Waters was this year’s recipient of the Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award for soccer.
While his playing career originally brought Ireland-native Joe Waters to Tacoma, his coaching career has left his most significant mark on the South Puget Sound region. Waters took the reins of the Bellarmine Prep boys soccer team in 1002, and in 27 years since he’s led the Lions to 15 league titles and 19 state tournaments. Hist teams have advanced to the state semifinals seven times, claiming state championships in 2004 and 2008. He’s received Coach of the Year honors at virtually every level: all-league, all-area, all-state and all-region.
Since 2003 Waters has held a monopoly on Bellarmine Prep soccer, coaching the girls in the fall and the boys in the spring. In his time at the helm coaching the girls, he’s led the Lions to eight league titles, 10 state tournament appearances, three semifinals, and 2004 state title.
Waters grew up in Limerick, Ireland and began playing professional soccer at the age of 15. He was named Rookie MVP with Leicester City and played for the Irish national team before coming to Tacoma to play for the Tacoma Stars in 1984. His stellar play continued as he set records for blocked shots and was named MISL Man of the Year.
Water’ coaching career began in 1988 when he became the Calgary Kickers player-coach. He also served as an assistant coach with the Tacoma Stars from 1989-92 and served as head coach of the pacific Lutheran University men’s soccer team from 1998-92 and lead the Tacoma Stars in 2013. |
