IHA Soccer Coach Steve Silver Reaches 400 Career Wins

 soccer coach Steve Silver recently reached a milestone 400 career wins, but he is quick to say that he has some of the top student athletes in the area to work with.

Silver, who lives in Glen Rock, has coached girls soccer for 23 years, with the last 15 at IHA. Before that, he coached at Midland Park High School.

Silver was active in sports throughout high school and college. He grew up in Englewood and attended Clark University in Worcester, Mass., playing soccer, basketball and baseball. After graduating from college, Silver said he got a good job but felt like he "was missing something."

He decided to try coaching, starting out as an assistant soccer coach at Clark University in 1987. After a year in Massachusetts, he returned to New Jersey to start his coaching career here, and the rest is history.

Silver has coached JV boys soccer, girls soccer, boys basketball, girls basketball and baseball. He has also coached at Ramapo High School.

Silver said he is very fortunate to have great athletes to coach at IHA.

"The girls and their families are really committed to having a great high school academic and athletic experience. That's helped me stick with it," Silver said. "I enjoy being around kids that are into it, not just in it. That's what we have at IHA."

The 400 wins come from both IHA and Midland Park and Silver said he has had many great years at IHA, including several state championships. He said getting to the championship level garners many wins and is exciting for both him and the students.

The IHA team is currently participating in the Bergen County soccer tournament.

"There have been a lot of great players and a lot of dedicated kids," Silver said.