West hires pro to coach varsity, jv soccer

Kenny Uzoigwe, new West boys’ varsity and girls jv soccer coach. Photo courtesy Lapeer Community Schools LAPEER — When the Lapeer West athletic department put out a call seeking a new boys’ varsity coach, little did it know that it would land a gem.

With former coach Matt McCaffrey stepping down from the position to await the arrival with his wife of his first child, the Panthers could only hope to find a quality replacement. They got that, and then some, as Kenny Uzoigwe, (say U-zig-way) a forward with the Michigan Bucks professional soccer team in Pontiac, has been hired as the new Lapeer West boys’ varsity and girls’ junior varsity soccer coach.

“Between the coaching, track, junior high wrestling and teaching, something had to give and family comes first,” said McCaffrey. “Tony (VanHouten) and I did some good things with the program, getting more kids out earlier and involved in summer camps. We had the most freshmen out, so he has some good kids coming back and I’ve seen some good players coming up from the eighth grade. I wish the program nothing but the best.”

The University of Toledo grad is a high profile scorer with several pro soccer teams. At Lapeer West, known for its high school American football, Uzoigwe says he wants to bring a level of excellence to the other “football.”

“What I want to do is build the program and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Uzoigwe said. “It’s a development process.”

With a retired professor as a father, Uzoigwe understands better than anyone the term student-athlete.

“Education is very important, you play the sport, but you have to make sure you have a good education and a degree to fall back on,” Uzoigwe added. “I am very excited about this opportunity.”

On his stellar professional resume, in 2007, Uzoigwe was voted Most Valuable Player for the Michigan Bucks. He has also played for the Major League Soccer Colorado Rapids Reserve team, the United Soccer League Div. 1 Charleston Battery and the Toledo Slayers of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League. He also was a goal-scoring finalist, member of a Professional Development League Championship team, selected to the PDL All Conference Team, All-Star, and All- American teams in consecutive years and was the PDL conference-leading goal scorer in 2006.

Uzoigwe also helped champion the highly-successful Lake Orion high school program and the Lake Orion Soccer Club. He’s contracted by the Michigan Bucks to run youth summer camps and organized competition.

As for Lapeer West, it couldn’t be happier to have landed such a catch.

“We are very excited to welcome Coach Uzoigwe to the Lapeer West athletic team,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mary Haslinger.

Uzoigwe and his wife, Melissa Wright, live in Auburn Hills with their twin son and daughter.