Men's Soccer Coaching Staff
Brett Suhayda, Head Coach
Brett Suhayda begins his third season as he continues to revitalize the Men’s Soccer program. Under his direction, look for the Chiefs to display solid team play and a strong defense. A former defender himself, Suhayda has successfully employed this style of play at several levels as he has assisted the Oswegoland Park district, the Wheatland Park District and the Genesis Soccer Club during the last decade.
Suhayda graduated from Oswego High School in 2001 where he starred for the Panthers on the soccer field. He was twice named All-Conference and served as team captain his senior year, when he also earned All-Area and All-Sectional Honorable Mention status. He was inducted into the Panthers’ Hall of Fame this past February. Suhayda went on to play at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, excelling both on and off the field. A two-time All-Conference selection as a defender, Suhayda also earned Academic All-Conference honors his senior year. In addition he was named an All-Wisconsin First Teamer as a junior and an Honorable Mention selection his senior year. Suhayda served as the Vikings’ captain his senior year and was twice named the team’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Coach Suhayda completed a B.A. degree in Biology from Lawrence in 2005. He attended the Infosport Pro-Soccer combine in Florida later that year and was invited to tryout for a pair of professional teams, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Cincinnati Kings. Suhayda went on to earn an M.A. in Plant and Soil Science in 2008 from University of Massachusetts. Off the field he works as a Compliance Associate for an area bank and is preparing for his upcoming wedding to fiancee' Joanna on Oct. 1.
Pat Mitchell, Assistant Coach
Pat Mitchell is in his first year as the Chiefs’ assistant coach, but he is no stranger to Waubonsee. Mitchell is a former Chiefs’ student/athlete and brings an all around sports knowledge base to the program. As a matter-of-fact, in the last several years he has worked with a wide range of athletes in various different sports.
Mitchell graduated from Marmion Academy High School in 2004 where he made the High Honor Roll all four years. On the gridiron he set a Cadets’ single-season records for most special teams’ solo tackles. Mitchell was also captain of the wrestling team for two years, and was named the Most Improved Wrestler his senior season. Mitchell was a grappler for the Chiefs in 2004-05 and 2005-06 before an injury cut short his sophomore year, a season in which the Chiefs finished second in the nation.
Coach Mitchell earned an Associate’s degree from Waubonsee in 2006 and his B.S. in psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2008. He went on to West Virginia University (WVU) and received an M.S. in coaching this past May. While at WVU, Mitchell served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, coaching soccer, softball, tennis and bowling. He even spent time as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Women’s Rowing team. Mitchell also was one of the Supervisors for WVU’s Special Needs Program, and worked for the Morgantown (WV) Park District as a Sports Camp Counselor. He currently teaches weight training as an Adjunct Faculty member at Waubonsee, and lives in Sugar Grove.
Bela "Bill" Suhayda, Volunteer Assistant Coach
Bill Suhayda joined the Chiefs’ staff as a Volunteer Assistant Coach after coaching at Aurora East High School, Newark High School and Aurora University in 2007 and 2008, respectively. He again teams up this season with his son Brett, the Chiefs’ head coach.
A native of Godisa (Pécs), Hungary, Suhayda emigrated to the United States and graduated from Aurora East High School in 1967. He went on to play soccer at Northern Illinois University and Aurora University where he was an All-Conference and All-NAIA District 20 performer for the Spartans in 1972 and 1973. Suhayda led Aurora in assists both seasons and was named Aurora’s MVP in 1973 after leading the team in scoring as well. He obtained a double Major in Biology and Psychology and also earned a certificate in Secondary Education from Aurora.
Coach Suhayda returned to the Aurora East School District where he taught Biology and coached both soccer and wrestling for over 30 years. He established both the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at Aurora East, coaching the boys’ teams from 1986 to 1991 and again from 2001 to 2005, and the girls’ program from 1997 through 2005.
In addition, Suhayda was a founder and president for the Fox Valley Kickers Youth Soccer Club. He has also worked for Aurora Township’s Delinquency Prevention Program and the Regional Office of Education in truancy prevention. Suhayda is a licensed pilot and is currently a soccer trainer for the Wheatland Park District.
