OFF THE WALL

by Ken Dunkin

It is funny when you think about it. The most influential person in women's soccer at UM-St. Louis was a man. Kenny Hudson created the program 18 years ago as a club team.

The program was his baby. As it matured, so did Kenny.

Now with the team on the verge of even more spectacular triumphs, Hudson must quit coaching at UM-St. Louis.

This is perhaps one of the biggest blows to the athletic department in years.

Hudson was one of the most laid back people to ever grace the humble halls of the Mark Twain Building. He was women's soccer at UM-St. Louis.

His tenure at the helm was nothing short of great, his team nothing less than fabulous; his demeanor was never less than that of a friend. Kenny was everyone's friend.

How could you not like a guy that loves doing what he is doing?

This guy was a picture perfect coach - friendly to all of the players, a leader, but stern. Don't mistake his friendliness for a weakness, it was his greatest strength.

It is how he got players to go to UM-St. Louis and how he got them to stay.

He had coached many of the women when they were many years younger, mostly in soccer leagues or camps in the St. Peters-St. Charles Area.

He befriended the girls at a young age, made them feel wanted. They then wanted to play for him when it came time to choose a college.

Through this he built a reputation. Recruiting for UM-St. Louis isn't the easiest job. Hudson almost didn't even have to recruit.

The women flocked to his program. Even in the lean year of 1994 when the team only had two subs, he made the best out of it and kept winning.

How many coaches here, there or anywhere can say that they win and recruit off of their reputations alone? There are few in the country.

And his presence wasn't just felt on the field. If you ever walked through the athletic office when Kenny was there, you undoubtedly heard his unique laugh, even down the hall.

It was a pleasure to work with him; he was a pleasure. Regrettably, he had to choose between his job with the government and coaching. The job won.

UM-St. Louis isn't just losing a great coach or a person with tremendous pull in D-II soccer, (Hudson was after all on the All-America squad committee) but more so a piece of it's history. Hudson was also a member of the only D-II Champion team in school history. He was a squad captain on the 1974 men's soccer squad that won the national championship. This guy is walking history, UM-St. Louis history.

Sadly, he has turned over the reigns of the Riverwomen program. The joy ride couldn't last forever, but it ended too soon.

Take care Kenny, you'll be missed.