It’s been eight years since Graham Winkworth took over as ASU soccer’s head coach, but after a down year, his approach is once again yielding real results.
Earlier this season, Winkworth won his 250th career game as a college head coach, but his temperament has stayed the same. Witnessing Winkworth during practice compared to his demeanor during games is night and day.
The animated figure who’s involved with nearly every tactical change on the pitch is usually replaced by a reserved individual, save for a few moments of frustration with his team or the referees.
Practice requires a different role from Winkworth, who’s often content to let his assistant coaches Ross Alexander, Hollie Loud and Rodrigo Selingardi take control of drills. While Winkworth certainly has his own vision, it’s up to his team to turn that plan into a reality.
"My job is, during the training sessions, to teach the girls what we want, and then for them to learn how to communicate it to each other rather than having me having to do it from the sideline," Winkworth said. "Then I can just steer the boat, rather than drive the boat."
Winkworth is particular about his details, however, and he’s seen some of his exercises pan out during games. Last week, ASU practiced counter-attacking with a winger on the sidelines and anticipating whether to "hit that first six-yard box or that second six-yard box" when crossing the ball inside.
During ASU’s 3-2 loss against now No. 5 Texas Tech on Oct. 16, that exact scenario played out, with senior midfielder Cameron Valladares delivering a perfect cross to sophomore forward Sierra Bergen for a header into the back of the net.
"That's the moments that we've been creating all season long, and it was great that we managed to finish one," Winkworth said. "We probably should have finished a few more this season."
Creating game plans and teaching specific strategies is one major aspect of coaching, but cultivating a positive team environment is just as important. Freshman Norah Bell entered this year without fully knowing what to expect from the staff and her teammates, but her first few months on the roster have given her a new perspective.
"Honestly, just having the coaches there to ask questions and help us understand the things that we haven't experienced before was definitely a game-changer for me," Bell said.
Beyond the coaching, it’s the team culture itself that Winkworth has had a big hand in maintaining. A large part of ASU’s roster is composed of transfers or freshmen; goalkeeper Pauline Nelles, midfielder Brianna Nunley, and defenders Ava Wright and Meighan Farrell are the only four-year Sun Devils on the team.
Yet within one season of being on the team, upperclassmen who have transferred in are already taking youngsters under their wing. Senior defender Grace Gillard and junior defender Lucy Fazackerley have had years of experience at the collegiate level, and their knowledge has eased Bell’s difficult transition to a position that she didn’t play before committing to ASU.
"Even if I’m confused (with) something, they're always the first to come ask me, if I need help, or if I have a question," Bell, who's started 15 of 16 games this season, said.
No team is devoid of its fair share of adversity, and a tough road schedule, along with injuries, has provided bumps in the road for ASU. Following an 8-0-2 start, the Sun Devils are just 1-4-1 in their last seven games with ranked losses to West Virginia, Colorado and Texas Tech.
Still, the results have caused the head coach and his group to focus even more on execution rather than their preparation.
"Because it was such a new team, we had finally gotten our momentum with those players and now we're losing those players," senior midfielder Peyton Marcisz said. "We just talked about 90 minutes, (it) has to be a full performance."
Winkworth is tasked with leading his team to victory every time they step foot on the field, but he also understands his responsibility as an advisor to these young athletes who train for hours on end.
The absences of sophomore midfielder Ella Kettles, who has been sidelined with an injury sustained against UCF on Sept. 28, and sophomore forward Kierra Blundell, who has been on and off the field throughout the year with injuries, make Winkworth’s job harder. But winning isn't his only priority.
"We have to look after the girls' safety first, and when you travel this much, we have to think about a substitution pattern that keeps them healthy first but also tries to keep us competitive," Winkworth said. "It's very difficult, but the girls face that adversity really well."
Edited by Jack McCarthy, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at pvallur2@asu.edu and follow @PrathamValluri on X.
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Pratham Valluri is a sports reporter at The State Press. He is a junior majoring in sports journalism with a business minor. He’s in his 5th semester with The State Press working previously as an opinion writer.
