Siegel boys soccer names John DeValk new head coach

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Siegel boys soccer coach John DeValk won't have to change much when he takes the helm of the Stars in 2020-21.

An assistant under Jason Finley for the past five seasons, DeValk has been hired to replace Finley, who will devote his time to his role as director of Tennessee Soccer Club.

"One of the things we talked about was the culture we had established," said DeValk, who was hired at Siegel in August 2015, just three weeks after Finley took over the Stars. "Luckily, with the relationship I had with Coach Finley, everything that was integrated, we did together. We had an equal hand in developing that.

"I'm not looking to change that. I'm looking to put my own individual spin and personality to it. I'm definitely not wanting to change what we started."

New Siegel boys soccer head coach John DeValk.

Siegel steadily improved under Finley, reaching the Region 4-AAA quarterfinals in 2018 and going 8-4-2 in 2019. The team played just one game in 2020.

DeValk is a 2001 Springfield graduate and was a three-time all-district performer for the Yellow Jackets. He was named all-region twice and All-State his senior season before going on to play at Martin Methodist.

He was head coach at Springfield in 2013-14 before being hired at Siegel.

"Coach Devalt is a great school man," Siegel Principal Larry Creasy said. "He's supportive of all athletics at Siegel, and he really knows soccer. He passed up opportunities to go to other schools to stay at Siegel in hopes for the chance to be the boys coach.

"Going forward, it's the best decision for our soccer program. He knows the players, and they know his expectations and the way he is. Hopefully it will be a smooth transition."

DeValt is also a soccer referee and officiated the 2019 Class AAA state title match between Ravenwood and Brentwood.

"I like to coach boys soccer because it gives me the opportunity to officiate in the fall," said DeValt, who also has experience coaching girls soccer at Springfield.

Finley will finish his role by taking a team (which is not a school-affiliated squad) to the Tennessee High School Soccer Coaches Association state championships in July in Gatlinburg.

Smyrna football has coaching changes

Smyrna has lost three talented coaches from its football staff recently, but two of them still will be involved in the future of the Bulldogs.

Former assistant Steve Williams (defensive backs), who has high school head coaching experience, has taken over as head coach at Rocky Fork Middle.

Fellow assistant Justin Morton (tight ends/H-backs) has taken the role as head football coach at Smyrna Middle.

Smyrna also lost another valuable member of its staff and a former head coach in Steve Carson (running backs), who will go into private business but remain as a teacher.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.