sports

An Amazing Run

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

irst, here’s why Birmingham
Marian High School girls soccer
coach Barry Brodsky doesn’t talk
to the media after his team wins a game,
unless it’s a state championship game.
It isn’t superstition as was reported
often in area newspapers during this
season.
“I have some young assistant coaches.
I want them to get used to talking to the
press,” Brodsky said.
Brodsky, 63, a 1973 Southfield-
Lathrup High School grad, ended his
media silence this season after the
Division 2 state championship game.
Marian beat Grand Rapids Forest Hills
Northern 4-2 June 16 at Williamston
High School, winning its second consec-
utive state title and seventh state cham-
pionship overall in Brodsky’s amazing
17-year run as coach.
The Mustangs have been state run-
ner-up three times during Brodsky’s
tenure and lost in the state semifinals
twice. That adds up to 12 trips to the
Final Four with Brodsky as coach.
His career record at Marian is 317-
26-36.

Brodsky’s teams have put up some
gaudy statistics through the years, quite
apropos because his “day job” is a certi-
fied public accountant with an office in
Farmington Hills.
This year’s team was just about per-
fect.
Marian finished 22-0-1, winning
Catholic League Central Division and
Catholic League tournament champion-
ship in addition to the state crown.
The Mustangs outscored their seven
postseason opponents 44-3 and had
five shutouts in the seven games. Forest
Hills Northern was the lone team that
scored more than once against Marian
during the state tournament.
So how does Brodsky balance his
coaching and CPA responsibilities dur-
ing income tax season?
“Fortunately, spring break usually
comes up early in the soccer season
and that gives me an opportunity to do
my tax work,” he said. “It’s a busy time,
though. I look forward to the end of tax
season so I can focus more on coach-
ing.”
Obviously, being a Jewish coach at a

Coach Barry Brodsky (third from left) and assistant coach Allie Brodsky (holding trophy) celebrate the
Birmingham Marian girls soccer team’s latest state championship with assistant coaches (from left) Peter
Hensoldt, Adam Gorski, Reid Friedrichs and Mike Schimmel.

Catholic high school hasn’t created any
issues in Marian’s girls soccer program.
“We don’t talk about religion much
within our team, more about life les-
sons,” Brodsky said. “But I do try to
relate to things the girls learn at school.”
Brodsky’s daughter Allie Brodsky
played for him for four years at Marian,
winning two state championships and
serving as team captain in 2013.
She was an assistant coach for the
Mustangs this season after playing soc-
cer for four years at Kalamazoo College.
There is something Marian hasn’t
accomplished with Brodsky as coach.
The Mustangs have never won three
straight state titles.
After winning state championships in
2009 and 2010, they fell to Auburn Hills
Avondale in a shootout in their 2011 dis-
trict opener.
“That 2011 team was probably my

best at Marian,” Brodsky said.
After winning state champion-
ships in 2003 and 2004, Marian lost to
Bloomfield Hills Lahser in its 2005 dis-
trict opener.
The 2019 Marian team could achieve
the elusive three-peat. Eighteen play-
ers are expected to return. Many in the
group have contributed to Marian’s
ongoing 47-game unbeaten streak
stretching over two seasons.
“We know we get every opponent’s
best shot,” Brodsky said. “When we lose,
there’s a mass celebration on the other
side. Our girls know what’s expected
of them. By the time they’re seniors,
they’re indoctrinated. That’s important
because each team takes on the person-
ality of its seniors.” •

Send sports news to
stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

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June 28 • 2018

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