When former goalkeeper Adam Lorenz looks back on his playing days, a variety of experiences come to mind, from competing with clubs such as Chicago Fire Juniors, Campton United and the Illinois Olympic Development Program, to playing collegiately for the University of Dubuque.
For Lorenz, however, those experiences “pale in comparison” to the athletic career he enjoyed at DeKalb High School.
“The high school memories are what I really carry with me,” said Lorenz. “The camaraderie that I had with my teammates, our successes and our failures, those are what really stick with me to this day.”
The experiences mean so much to Lorenz that they motivated him to enter the coaching ranks, and this week, he was hired as Geneseo High School’s new varsity boys’ soccer head coach.
“I look forward to sharing the kind of moments I’ve had with our boys, and ultimately helping them build their own successes,” said Lorenz. “I want our team to have positive experiences like I was fortunate enough to enjoy. Hopefully that is the kind of impact I can have on them and our program.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Lorenz, who brings a lifelong passion for the game,” said Athletic Director Joe Nichols. “He has a wealth of valuable experience, both as a player and a coach, and for as much as he loves soccer, he cares just as much about helping our players develop and grow on and off the field. We’re excited for him to get to work, build on an already strong foundation, and put his mark on Geneseo soccer.”
Lorenz replaces Harvey Morton, who spent eight seasons leading a program that has won four regional titles in the last decade.
“I congratulate Harvey on everything that he's done in Geneseo for the boys’ team,” said Lorenz. “He leaves behind a foundation that's going to be awesome for me to build upon. From here on out, when we get on the pitch, we're going to be working. We're going to get after it. That's something that I'm excited to do.”
Ever since he was young, Lorenz was drawn to soccer and being part of a team.
“I got to play all around the field,” said Lorenz. “I loved playing striker as a little kid and it wasn't until my best friend in middle school broke his hand that I became a goalkeeper. I stuck with that all the way through college. It's very unique to have a goalkeeping background, and I'm excited that's something that I can bring as a head coach.”
Lorenz began coaching while at Dubuque when got involved with the school’s soccer club, helping coordinate the recreational program and working with youth players.
“That was really rewarding because you're working from ground zero with some kids who had never touched a ball before,” Lorenz noted. “I was passionate about the sport growing up, so I wanted to give the kids every tool and resource that I was lucky enough to get from other coaches.”
When Lorenz and his family moved to Geneseo five years ago, he quickly noticed how much the community embraces its sports teams.
“At first, I was surprised to come into a smaller community and see how involved and engaged it is with athletics,” said Lorenz. “But it's awesome, and really encouraging to see it as a coach coming into it.”
Lorenz has coached the last five years within the Geneseo Soccer Club (U13 and U14 girls teams), which has afforded him the opportunity to grow deeper connections with his own kids as well as their friends, teammates and families.
As Lorenz reflects on his soccer journey and transformation from a player to a coach, he’s quick to acknowledge a few individuals who have made an impact and provided opportunities.
“I can’t wait for the season to begin and I’m so humbled to be in this position,” said Lorenz. “I want to thank Mr. Nichols and Geneseo’s hiring committee for placing their faith in me to lead the program. I also want to extend my gratitude to Jason Berna from the Dubuque Soccer Club for giving me the opportunity to begin my coaching career and serving as a mentor.”
A new challenge awaits Lorenz now, and as he prepares to take over at GHS, he will rely on his experiences as a player and a coach to move the program forward.
“I feel like I have a successful blueprint that I can bring to Geneseo’s program,” said Lorenz. “I am very thankful for my time in DeKalb with my coaches, Brent McIntosh and Phillip Rouse. Those two played a huge part in my development as a player and shaped how I coach. As players, they held us accountable. They also led by example, and those are things that I’ll definitely share with our boys.”
Lorenz continued, “I'm going to challenge our players to be the best versions of themselves every day. At the same time, I’ll be a sponge and do a lot of learning, especially in my first year. As far as expectations go, the team always comes first. That's a given for me. If we have adversities to overcome, we’ll do that as a team. If we have successes, we'll celebrate those as a team as well.”
