Joe Haefner plans to maintain Mars boys soccer’s ‘very high standards’ as its new head coach
Joe Haefner does not see it as hitting the ground running.
Approved Tuesday night as the new boys soccer coach at Mars, the former Planets’ goalie and assistant coach will approach his new role as if it didn’t come at his alma mater.
The 2009 graduate served as an assistant under Mars girls coach Blair Gerlach 2016-21 and under boys coach Chris Knauff the last four years.
Knauff resigned last fall after guiding the Planets to a 301-77-23 record, three WPIAL titles and a state title in 19 seasons.
“Both of them have very high standards,” Haefner said. “I want to make sure that continues with the boys team. Some people may see this as me getting a head start because I’m so familiar with the program. But just when you think you have something figured out, you don’t. Details matter, and I don’t want there to be complacency surrounding the program.”
Haefner has been a special education teacher at Mars High School for eight years. He started in net for the Planets 2006-08, helping the team reach the state final in 2007 and win a WPIAL crown the following year. He takes over a boys program that has qualified for the district playoffs 24 straight years. That streak, ironically, began when Gerlach took over the boys team in 2002.
“Going from being an assistant to taking over a whole team, now you’re making tactical decisions during a game that can affect the outcome,” Gerlach said. “It’s a big transition, but every head coach has that first year when they make that jump. Hopefully, (the boys team) will continue to excel.
Haefner said his time as an assistant with the girls team, which included three WPIAL and three state titles from 2019-21, fueled his desire to become a head coach.
“It makes it even more special that my first head coaching job comes at Mars,” Haefner said. “I played here, my sisters played here. My dad was the board president of Mars soccer for a number of years. I live in Mars, and I know there are a lot of people invested in soccer here.”
Mars soccer benefits from players who have received elite coaching and competition by the time they reach high school thanks to very strong club and travel organizations in the region.
Haefner is well aware of this, and his philosophy on playing time is clear.
“The best players will rise to the top,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what grade they’re in.”
