Friday, Jun. 26, 2009

'It's the ultimate': Gibault's Corsi earns place in Hall of Fame

Coach led Hawks to three state titles

WATERLOO -- Coach Jim Corsi has led Gibault High to three state championships in boys soccer, but they pale in comparison to his most recent accomplishment.

Corsi, 70, the Hawks' coach for the last 17 years, was inducted into the Illinois State Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Elmhurst. Corsi became just the third coach in the metro-east to be enshrined, joining Granite City's Gene Baker and Granite City North's Bob Kehoe.

"The Hall of Fame means more. It's the highest (honor); it's the ultimate," Corsi said. "It's affirmation of hard work over the years. It's pretty exclusive company."

Corsi's career record with the boys is 255-160-32. He has led the Hawks to six berths in the state tournament, including championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007, third-place finishes in 2001 and 2008 and a fourth-place finish in 2002.

Corsi, who lives in Belleville, also owns a second-place finish with the girls program (2006), which he started in 1995. He is 146-156-14 in 15 seasons with the girls, giving him an overall record of 401-316-46.

There's much more to Corsi than his record, however. He is recognized as the metro-east's No. 1 soccer ambassador, in part because he promotes players from other teams --not just his own --for state honors. He oversees the southern portion of Illinois (Section 12), ranging from Carbondale to Carlinville.

"I don't care whose boy or girl it is, I'll battle for them," Corsi said. "I like to work really hard for soccer, in general. I have a passion for the game. I love the game, and I love the game for lots of reasons."

Joe Trost, a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, helped get the ball rolling on Corsi's induction into the Hall of Fame in his "Corner Kicks" blog. Trost trumpeted Corsi's credentials in October 2007 and October 2008.

"It's about time," Trost said of Corsi's overdue induction. "His story, his accomplishments and everything he has given to the sport deserved to be honored years ago. I'm just glad Corsi's time in the spotlight has finally arrived."

Corsi has heard all the complaints about the game he has loved for years.

"Some people don't understand the game," Corsi said. "They say, 'It's boring. There's not enough scoring.' I understand completely.

"The joy of the game, for me, is the passing, the promise of a goal. We sometimes need immediate gratification. But in soccer, you wait for that glorious moment when the ball goes into the back of the net. I love that part of it."

Corsi loves preparing his teams to play in games. Once a game starts, however, Corsi rarely is heard. He sits and observes rather than pace the sidelines.

"Once the game starts, the coaching ends," Corsi said. "There are no timeouts. You can holler and make some adjustments, but that's not me. I love the training and getting (players) ready for the game. Then I just let them play. I like the idea of the kids being able to play the game the way they've been coached."

Corsi, a retired Air Force colonel who played and coached soccer in Europe, became hooked on the game at Kingtson High in Kingston, Mass.

"We had under 100 students --boys and girls," Corsi said. "They started soccer, and our coach had never seen a soccer game and didn't know the rules. It was hilarious. But I fell in love with the game."

Corsi said his coach employed some unique ideas.

"He put one clique (of players) near the offensive goal and one clique in the defensive goal," Corsi said. "We used to boom the ball from one clique to the other. We had an off-sides problem.

"We were good athletes, but we were lousy at soccer. We scored one goal, and to be honest with you, the coach didn't even know."

Corsi said the opposing team kicked the ball in the goal for Kingston.

Corsi said his players "keep me young." But in February 2006, Corsi was working out at the East Belleville YMCA when he collapsed. His heart stopped, but he was revived by an automated external defibrillator.

"I've got a newly found life," said Corsi, who has a defibrillator implant in his chest. It's been three years and all the checkups are great.

"I said then, 'I'm going to enjoy this while I have this opportunity on Earth.' I've doubly thrown myself into it since then. I feel wonderful."