Chad Niedert will tell you he likes to put everything he has into anything he’s doing.
The 34-year old has made the decision to pursue professional interests outside of education. With that, he can not make the same commitment to the Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer program so he resigned his head coaching and teaching positions at Highlands on Wednesday.
Niedert held the position for five years. The school promoted him to the spot in 2017 after he served as an assistant on the staff of the previous head coach Matthew Winkler. The Bluebirds finished 83-26-9 in Niedert’s five years consistently contending for 9th Region championships.
The Bluebirds won region titles in 2018 and 2019. Highlands finished state runner-up in 2018 losing 1-0 to state power Louisville St. Xavier in the championship game. In 2019, the Bluebirds lost 2-1 (4-3) on penalty kicks in the state quarterfinals to eventual state champion Lexington Henry Clay.
“He set the standard for how soccer is supposed to be done here,” said Wes Caldwell, Highlands Director of Athletics. “I’m not too familiar with how soccer was before I got here (in 2020). But what he’s done is take that program to state contending levels. That’s a testament to Coach Niedert with what he’s built during his time at Highlands.”
Highlands won all five 36th District championships during that time including a 10-0 record against district rival Newport Central Catholic. The Bluebirds have won 12 straight overall against the Thoroughbreds.
“I’m really proud of what our team has accomplished over the last five years as a head coach with them and the staff itself. I think we’ve seen significant amount of growth in where we’re at,” Niedert said. “We’ve always been right at the cusp of one of those top teams in the state and I think where we’re leaving now, we have arguably in the last few years been one of those teams to beat. Whoever the new coach may be is inheriting a program that is not a place that needs a culture shift. I can’t speak more highly of not just the soccer players that are part of our program, but the young men that we produce and the families that are involved. I’m grateful for all the contributions that everybody’s made into what our program is now.”
Highlands finished 18-5-1 this past year. The Bluebirds won the 36th District Tournament then beat Cooper, 4-1 at Tower Park to advance to the 9th Region semifinals at St. Henry. The Bluebirds lost 1-0 (3-1) on penalty kicks to Covington Catholic in the semifinals.
CovCath (14-9-5) wound up winning the region en route to the state championship game. The Colonels lost 2-1 to Lexington Dunbar in the state championship game.
Highlands did not give up a goal in regulation in both games against CovCath last year. The Bluebirds beat the Colonels, 1-0 on Sept. 7 in Park Hills. Highlands concluded the regular season with a 5-2 thrashing of Dunbar at Tower Park on Oct. 2.
Niedert has said in the past he’s not a fan of penalty kicks. But he does not want people to lose sight that this program is close to winning the state championship. He hopes the new head coach continues to point the Bluebirds in that direction.
“I think it’s vital that the high school game resembles what our guys are doing at the club level and whatever pursuits might be in front of them,” Niedert said. “As far as any game that requires a winner at any time like it or not, work in your favor or not, that’s how the game’s outlined. If changes come, it’s like any other change. It’s important to adapt and be able to respond to change instead of pointing retroactively as that being the fault.”
Caldwell said the team will continue to do off-season workouts with Highlands Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Aaron Letinski. The staff has some work ahead putting the job posting out to the right platforms to see who will apply, especially with Highlands going on Spring Break next week.
Highlands graduates eight players off the roster from last fall out of the 23 listed players including the likes of midfielder Cole Lorenzen and forward/midfielder Jordan Frisk. But the Bluebirds do return sophomore goalkeeper Jack Wilson.
Highlands outscored opponents, 76-30. The Bluebirds scored an average of just more than three goals per game and gave up an average of just more than one per contest.
Junior forward Colin Pieper returns after leading Highlands with 22 goals and 53 points. He also had nine assists. Sophomore forward/midfielder Chad Gesenhues also returns after scoring 10 goals and recording four assists for 24 points.
Highlands has two state runner-up finishes in school history. The other time came in 2008. The Bluebirds lost 7-2 to St. Xavier in that title game.