Boys soccer: Gecan steps down at Burlington Central

After Mike Gecan stepped down as Burlington Central's head girls soccer coach in 2013 to focus on his master's degree, he said if the girls program ever needed him again in some capacity he would be ready when need be.

That opportunity came quickly - in the form of an assistant's role to Massimo Piscopo in 2014 and for current head coach Jess Arneson the past two seasons.

Now Gecan is extending that same olive branch to the boys program.

Gecan informed Central athletic director Steve Diversey prior to spring break that he would be stepping down as the boys head coach, a decision he contemplated since Christmas. And it wasn't an easy decision after 11 years, 5 conference titles, 2 regional championships, a sectional title and a fourth-place state showing in 2010.

"If I ever did want any type of story, I'd rather have it about me not leaving but about me one day coming back," said Gecan, who compiled a 150-82-23 record overall with the boys. "It was a very hard decision for me. I have spent a third of my life as a head coach and it has become a large part of my identity."

It's easy to forget that seven of those years were dedicated to both squads, as he compiled a 91-49-16 record with the girls with four Big Northern East titles and one regional crown. But all of those years add up and relinquishing those duties for the 35-year-old physical education teacher frees him up to focus on family life.

"Being a head coach requires a lot of time and commitment, which at this point in my life I'd rather spend with my family," Gecan noted.

Besides working with some talented players over the years and getting to know them not just for their soccer ability but their personalities, Gecan coins the program's charitable work last season with Marklund, a facility that provides care to children and adults with developmental disabilities, as one of his biggest highlights. He also cherishes the times he coached the Rockets with his brother Ryan and best friend Bryan Weick.

"I got to coach with my brother and my best friend, which was a huge factor of me staying as long as I did," Gecan said. "But hands down, going downstate - not every coach gets to experience that. And that whole experience I got to feel it once and go downstate and play in those high-level games, experiencing that was one of the highlights."

Just don't be too surprised if you see Gecan, who had no problem transitioning the girls program to Arneson, serving the boys in the same role as he does for Arneson in the future.

"Hopefully one day down the road they will add an assistant coach to our boys program, which I would be open to doing as well," he said.