Russell London steps up in first year as boys' soccer coach at FCD
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By Kegan Lowe Winston-Salem Journal
LEWISVILLE — The move had been almost a year in the making, but it wasn’t until earlier this month that Russell London’s reign as the Forsyth Country Day boys’ soccer coach officially began.
After Furies athletics director Chris Turner decided to step aside as head coach of the team in October 2015 following a successful 18-year stint, he knew he didn’t have to look far to find a suitable replacement.
London worked as an assistant coach for Turner and the FCD boys’ soccer team on multiple occasions in recent years, including the 2015 season, before accepting Turner’s offer and beginning a new era of FCD soccer.
“I’ve known Russell for a long time. I’ve known him as a friend. I coached his son. He has worked with me and worked under me, so I know what kind of person he is and what kind of values he has,” Turner said. “He is just one of the great guys of all time — one of those guys that has just never had a bad day. He came on last year as my assistant, and I just kind of knew he was going to be the guy to take over right away.”
In Turner’s 18 seasons as head coach, the Furies advanced to four NCISAA boys’ state championship games, winning two state titles and more than 230 games.
Just last season, Turner was named the PACIS 2-A/3-A conference coach of the year after leading the Furies to a 9-8-4 overall record despite starting the season with just one win in their first 10 games.
Of course, London is aware of the past success and future expectations, and it is at least part of the reason he decided to take over for Turner.
“Honestly,” London said. “I enjoy the challenge. I really, really do.”
Challenge is perhaps the most appropriate description for what London takes over in his first season as FCD head coach, as the Furies lost 11 seniors from last year’s team, the vast majority of whom were starters and played significant roles in last year’s late-season turnaround, according to London.
This year, Forsyth Country Day features a roster with 10 underclassmen — one eighth-grader, six freshmen and three sophomores.
And while the roster also includes 15 seniors, London said that is a tad deceiving, considering that a handful of his oldest players are new to the game of soccer, competitively picking up the sport for the first time.
“I like to keep things real,” London said. “And I look at some of the other teams and there is a lot of talent out there. We don’t really have the talent other teams do right now and we don’t have the experience.
“So for us, it is a rebuilding process this year. We kept a full roster and we didn’t cut anyone (from tryouts), so we can keep the younger kids around the team this season and help us grow for the future and for next season.”
The rebuilding process, which involves a great deal of roster turnover and breaking in a slew of inexperienced players, further reinforced Turner’s decision to hire London as the head coach last October.
“I have watched coach London after wins, and I have watched him after losses and he is always the same — just an ultra-positive guy,” Turner said.
“Quite honestly, I am very intense as a coach and he is much more laid-back than I am, so he will probably handle a rebuilding year much better than I would have, which is a great testament to his character.”
Despite the modest outlook on the season from both London and Turner, the Furies are off to a decent start in 2016 — better than the 2015 season, when they ultimately finished with a winning record.
Through the first seven games of the London era, Forsyth Country Day has a 2-4-1 overall record, including a season-opening 3-0 win over Christ the King, a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3-A playoffs last season.
London said he has been pleased with the effort of his players so far this season, and he expects the results to keep improving as the Furies gain experience and become more comfortable playing with one another.
“I’m a big believer in believing in yourself, keeping it simple and using the weapons that you have,” London said. “We try to be good at just passing the ball because the kids can have a lot of self-doubt, and I try to tell them it is a simple game.
“Are they going to mess up and make bad decisions? Yes, of course. But the game is the best teacher, so the only way to get better is to get into the game and keep playing. That is what we are doing this year, while I guide them.”
.
By Kegan Lowe Winston-Salem Journal
LEWISVILLE — The move had been almost a year in the making, but it wasn’t until earlier this month that Russell London’s reign as the Forsyth Country Day boys’ soccer coach officially began.
After Furies athletics director Chris Turner decided to step aside as head coach of the team in October 2015 following a successful 18-year stint, he knew he didn’t have to look far to find a suitable replacement.
London worked as an assistant coach for Turner and the FCD boys’ soccer team on multiple occasions in recent years, including the 2015 season, before accepting Turner’s offer and beginning a new era of FCD soccer.
“I’ve known Russell for a long time. I’ve known him as a friend. I coached his son. He has worked with me and worked under me, so I know what kind of person he is and what kind of values he has,” Turner said. “He is just one of the great guys of all time — one of those guys that has just never had a bad day. He came on last year as my assistant, and I just kind of knew he was going to be the guy to take over right away.”
In Turner’s 18 seasons as head coach, the Furies advanced to four NCISAA boys’ state championship games, winning two state titles and more than 230 games.
Just last season, Turner was named the PACIS 2-A/3-A conference coach of the year after leading the Furies to a 9-8-4 overall record despite starting the season with just one win in their first 10 games.
Of course, London is aware of the past success and future expectations, and it is at least part of the reason he decided to take over for Turner.
“Honestly,” London said. “I enjoy the challenge. I really, really do.”
Challenge is perhaps the most appropriate description for what London takes over in his first season as FCD head coach, as the Furies lost 11 seniors from last year’s team, the vast majority of whom were starters and played significant roles in last year’s late-season turnaround, according to London.
This year, Forsyth Country Day features a roster with 10 underclassmen — one eighth-grader, six freshmen and three sophomores.
And while the roster also includes 15 seniors, London said that is a tad deceiving, considering that a handful of his oldest players are new to the game of soccer, competitively picking up the sport for the first time.
“I like to keep things real,” London said. “And I look at some of the other teams and there is a lot of talent out there. We don’t really have the talent other teams do right now and we don’t have the experience.
“So for us, it is a rebuilding process this year. We kept a full roster and we didn’t cut anyone (from tryouts), so we can keep the younger kids around the team this season and help us grow for the future and for next season.”
The rebuilding process, which involves a great deal of roster turnover and breaking in a slew of inexperienced players, further reinforced Turner’s decision to hire London as the head coach last October.
“I have watched coach London after wins, and I have watched him after losses and he is always the same — just an ultra-positive guy,” Turner said.
“Quite honestly, I am very intense as a coach and he is much more laid-back than I am, so he will probably handle a rebuilding year much better than I would have, which is a great testament to his character.”
Despite the modest outlook on the season from both London and Turner, the Furies are off to a decent start in 2016 — better than the 2015 season, when they ultimately finished with a winning record.
Through the first seven games of the London era, Forsyth Country Day has a 2-4-1 overall record, including a season-opening 3-0 win over Christ the King, a team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCISAA 3-A playoffs last season.
London said he has been pleased with the effort of his players so far this season, and he expects the results to keep improving as the Furies gain experience and become more comfortable playing with one another.
“I’m a big believer in believing in yourself, keeping it simple and using the weapons that you have,” London said. “We try to be good at just passing the ball because the kids can have a lot of self-doubt, and I try to tell them it is a simple game.
“Are they going to mess up and make bad decisions? Yes, of course. But the game is the best teacher, so the only way to get better is to get into the game and keep playing. That is what we are doing this year, while I guide them.”
