Steve Fennah (center) began coaching at Jesuit in 1993, one year after moving to the US from Wales. (Photo by Miles Vance)

More than three decades have passed since Steve Fennah marveled at the scene of Jesuit's first-ever girls soccer practice.

The school had just turned co-ed, and on that same day in the summer of 1993, excitement was in the air as the girls soccer, cross country and volleyball teams took their first steps.

“There was a craziness that was going on,” said Fennah, who started Jesuit's girls soccer program after one season as the coach at Hudson's Bay of Vancouver. “It was totally into the unknown.”

It didn't take long for Fennah – who moved to the United States the previous year from Wrexham, Wales – and the Crusaders to take the state by storm. They won the Metro League in their first year, then reeled off four consecutive unbeaten seasons, capping them with state titles.

Now, as Fennah prepares Jesuit to defend another state championship, he is on the brink of becoming the state's all-time leader in wins. In two stints as the team's coach, spanning 20 seasons (1993-97, 2010-24), he has a record of 317-18-21 with 11 big-school state titles. He trails only Brian Gant, who went 324-35-17 with 12 small-school titles in 21 seasons at Catlin Gabel (1984-2004).

“I have a lot of pride in what we've been able to accomplish,” said Fennah, named the national coach of the year by United Soccer Coaches in 2018. “In particular, pride in what the kids have gone on to do, not just play soccer at a high level. We talk about our goals being to help the kids grow up through the medium of playing soccer.”

In that first season at Jesuit, Fennah benefited from an influx of club players from FC Portland, which was run by late University of Portland coach Clive Charles. The team included Sara Bagby, who transferred from Catlin Gabel as a junior and finished her career with 131 goals, which now stands tied for No. 3 all-time in the state.

“We had some special players that came in right away,” Fennah said. “We defied logic by winning the Metro League and getting to state.”

Fennah said a winning soccer culture was already in place at Jesuit with the boys team under coach Dave Nicholas, who guided the Crusaders to 11 state championships. With 411 wins at Lincoln (1977-85) and Jesuit (1986-2008), Nicholas stands atop the state's list for boys coaches.

“I've always given credit to the strength of the program that Dave Nicholas put together on the boys side at Jesuit for the quick take-off of the girls side,” Fennah said. “The kids were enrolled before I got appointed to be coach. But Dave had a great tradition of success at Jesuit. I think that was a factor in that they thought the girls might be quite good, as well.”

After leading the Crusaders to undefeated seasons from 1994 to 1997, Fennah sought a college coaching job. Shortly after applying for the job at Portland State, he got hired as the coach at Oregon State. He had modest success as the Beavers coach from 1998 to 2007.

“I got lucky enough to get it,” Fennah said. “It was 10 really enjoyable years down there. I kind of got burned out with the recruiting. You were recruiting younger and younger players.”

Fennah resigned at Oregon State, and his timing was fortuitous. His old PE teaching job at Jesuit opened up, and he returned to the school. He assisted Nicholas with the boys team for two seasons with the knowledge that Ken Skipper, Fennah's successor as girls coach, would soon be stepping down and he could return to the position.

“It was just an easy decision to go back,” Fennah said. “There was excitement when that opportunity presented itself.”

Skipper, who coached the girls to five state titles from 1998 to 2009, resigned after winning the 2009 state title. Fennah took his spot and led the Crusaders to another state title in his return in 2010.

From 2017 to 2019, Jesuit had another unbeaten run that included three consecutive 6A titles. The 2018 team was arguably the best in state history, outscoring its opponents 128-1 and winning the state final 8-0 over Clackamas. That team featured Callan Harrington, who scored 133 career goals, No. 2 all-time in the state.

Shortly after receiving the award as 2018 national coach of the year, Fennah was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in early 2019. He has been able to manage the condition while continuing to coach.

“I've been really fortunate that it's a really slow progression,” said Fennah, who turns 60 in September. “And I've had good care at OHSU.”

Fennah openly discusses his condition with students and players. His only visible symptom is his right arm sometimes shakes, more so in stressful situations.

“I joke with the kids a little bit that it must be a big game today, because it shakes a bit more when we're playing Grant other than team XYZ,” he said.

To contend again this season, Jesuit must compensate for the graduation of several players who have gone on to college programs in Sophia Stiles (Rutgers), Kaitlyn MacLennan (Cal Poly), Claudia Rose (Loyola Marymount), Riley Jeffries (Denver) and goalkeepers Zoe Anderson (UNC Wilmington) and Lauren Butorac (Weber State).

Also, one of the team's top seniors – forward Marian Dunne – has opted not to play this season. She plans to graduate early and start her college career at Rutgers.

Jesuit still has a strong nucleus with senior captains Josephine Frischknecht (defender/midfielder), Ana Kubiaczyk (midfielder) and Maeve Thomas (defender). The Crusaders also bring back their leading scorer from last season in junior forward Natalie Webber as well as sophomore defender Eva Stiles and junior defender Lucy Thomas.

“We'll be a talented team,” Fennah said. “We may play a different team shape than we've played in the last seven or eight years. We may play three strikers instead of two.

“I'm excited to get going again.”