Peter Riley
Co-Editor in Chief

GBS has existed, flourished, for 62 years. Throughout those years the Titan boys soccer program has retired just one coach until after this year’s season. The second coach to ever lead the varsity boys soccer team, Jim Wolter, is retiring after 28 years in the position.

Junior defender Shawn Michols played under Wolter for one full season.

“I liked the tradition that he brought, growing up I’ve always seen him as the coach… He’s kind of the face of GBS Soccer,” Michols said.

In the era of Wolter’s near three-decade career at South he has devoted his time as the boys head coach, and both the girls varsity soccer head and assistant head coach.

“I always felt I wanted to give something back to players and I felt as a coach that was the best way because I loved the game,” Wolter said.

In 2005 Wolter gave back to the game by leading his team into the State Quarterfinals. He understood the opportunity he was given with such a talented lineup, but remained consistent with his philosophy on coaching.

Wolter not only focused on the development of his players’ technical skills but also sought to improve their characters.

“I always wanted too strengthen sportsmanship, develop their reputation, all as part of [making them] better citizens,” Wolter said.

In his final year coaching, Wolter and the Titans fell in penalty kicks to a strong Hersey team. Through a game filled with multiple yellow cards, and one red card, Wolter controlled his impassioned squad. Referee John LaBerg commended Wolter’s sportsmanship in the game, and recommended him for a sportsmanship award, the Sporting a Winning Attitude recognition.

“Jim’s team lost in their regional game, but he and his team showed exemplary sportsmanship to both Hersey and the officials,” LaBerg wrote in an email to the IHSA.

Such sportsmanship took root very early in Wolter’s career. As a young assistant coach at Deerfield for seven years, Wolter derived one of his central coaching philosophies from mentor Van Miller: “You are a person first before you are an athlete.”

Wolter also preached the need for players to recognize their priorities in order of family, school and then soccer; and he practiced what he preached.

Before he was sidelined with a torn ACL his senior year, Wolter’s son Jeff played one year under his father.

Jeff Wolter said, “I enjoyed having him as a coach and a dad… He pressured me to work out and work hard every day.”

As a teacher, Wolter understood the need to continue learning himself. “I was always a student of the game and as an educator, continually looking to grow and observe other coaches and how they handle particular situations,” Wolter said.

Exiting his career, Wolter stands tall as a coach to mentor younger coaches. He was recognized earlier in the year as the Illinois Soccer Person of the Year. The 16 sections of Illinois state high school soccer all nominate individuals, and Wolter was recognized for his dedication to promoting soccer throughout his career.

Wolter’s contributions will not be forgotten. Jeff Wolter said, “He always gave everyone a fair chance…It’s sad [that he is retiring]… I know he loved every minute of it.”

After coaching nearly one thousand boys and girls throughout the years, this soccer coach managed to impart his advice on the game to many.

Wolter said, “I never envisioned of a time of getting out, but I think the time has come where I would like to pass it on…Hopefully I have been some small part in [the players] lives to make them a better person, and hopefully they are thinking the same way.”