Olympia girls soccer coach resigns
Olympia High School girls soccer coach Tessa Effland resigned Friday after 20 seasons with the program.
She coached junior varsity at Olympia for four seasons before taking over the varsity job in 2000.
“The administration and the school is incredible,” Effland said. “It’s been pretty awesome, but it’s definitely time. I think the girls and the parents are looking for something new, so our coaching staff stepped down.
“We’re excited to see who they’re going to hire and get a new staff in there and see them be successful for the next 20 years.”
Effland announced her resignation Sunday on Facebook. Olympia athletic director Tim Ahern declined to comment.
“After 20 years of coaching, I resigned Friday as the OHS head coach,” Effland wrote in her Facebook post. “It has been the most amazing experience to have the opportunity to challenge, push, motivate, inspire, train, teach and influence over 3000 players in good moments and the most challenging that sports can bring over 2 decades.”
Olympia advanced to the state playoffs seven times during Effland’s career. The Bears finished the 2015 season 3-11-2, two years after finishing third at the Class 4A state tournament.
Effland’s 2013 team went 16-4-2, capping its season by beating Mead, 1-0 (3-0 shootout), for third in the state.
That is the highest Olympia has placed in the 4A classification. It took second in 3A in 1995 and 1988. The program has never won a state title.
In her Facebook post, Effland thanked her staff — Ty Johnson, Sandy Kelly, Travis Larsen, Julie Hamilton and Jeremy Bertrand — players, parents and administrators for their support throughout her career.
“It has been a huge part of my life and one I will forever be grateful and thankful for,” she wrote. “It has been a blessing over the years to watch players become stronger, take on challenges, learn to be the best versions of themselves and see over 6000 parents do the same. It has taught me so much that I will forever take with me.”
This story was originally published April 4, 2016 at 8:02 PM with the headline "Olympia girls soccer coach resigns."