Podcast: Worcester Academy’s James Proctor on adding to his program

Worcester Academy boys soccer coach James Proctor joined 'The Goal' podcast. (Mike Gridley/New England Soccer Journal)

The latest guest on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast is Worcester Academy boys soccer head coach James Proctor.

Proctor, who has been WA’s head coach since 2000, led the program to a NEPSAC Class A championship last fall and a final record of 19-0-1.

He also enjoyed a 12-year career as a professional soccer player.

Proctor joined host Matt Langone to discuss Worcester Academy’s incoming players for the 2023 season, how he goes about recruiting talent to the program, and how his team will approach the upcoming season as the defending champs.

The full podcast can be accessed below and is available on all major platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review.

Here are some highlights from our discussion with Proctor:

On the process of trying to add new players to the program each year:

Proctor: “Prep school coaches are covering ninth grade right through postgraduate. So, it’s a lot of work. You go to games and you’ll see other coaches there, and most prep school coaches are very friendly with each other.”

On the competitive nature of trying to land new players at a prep school in New England:

Proctor: “I think we all do a good job of representing who we work for and with the recruiting. When a coach doesn’t really think the player is coming to them, we normally call each other and say, ‘Hey, what are you thinking?’ And you get an idea. Some families are very up front and tell you. So, that’s fine. For some, it’s waiting until April 10th. And, sometimes, the coaches, we don’t know what people are going to do.”

On what Worcester Academy has to offer:

Proctor: “Look, I’ve been there 23 years. The school has been there a lot longer than I have, and I think the foundation of Worcester Academy over many, many years has been the fabric of what people know about it, and the amount of people that have come through the institution and gone on to do amazing things is incredible. I sell the school on the main thing: it’s the people. It’s the people that work there. They really believe in the people they’re working for. The students and the families that come to us and believe in us to educate their kids. Those people enjoy going to work every day. The teachers, the administrators, they love being there, but first and foremost, they’re there for the kids and making sure that they come in and they succeed in the goals that they have.”

On entering the 2023 season as the defending Class A champion:

Proctor: “That last season is over, and it’s a new slate. You want to make your own piece of history, and it starts with the first game of the season. Go one at a time and give yourself an opportunity to be there at the end, to hopefully be a Final Four team that has a chance to compete for a championship. But at the same time, every year in prep school, soccer — (Class) A, B, C, D — there’s other phenomenal teams, and I think next fall is going to be one of the most cracking Class A tournaments.”

The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the New England Revolution.

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