Samii hired to coach boys soccer at CHS

Bishop Manogue's loss is Carson High's gain.

Medhi Samii, who had coached boys soccer the past three seasons at Manogue, is Carson's new boys varsity soccer coach.

Medhi, the father of Carson star Michael Samii and a past coach in the Capital Soccer Club program, has been holding conditioning/informal workouts and is looking forward to the first official day of practice on Aug. 13. He replaces Eric Masters, who resigned after two successful seasons at CHS.

The 53-year-old Samii, who lives and works in Carson City, said the commute got to be too much.

"Going there for practice and games took its toll," Samii said. "I really liked coaching at Manogue. I'm grateful for the opportunity Mr. Rumball (Larry, Manogue athletic director) gave me.

"I read a story in the Appeal where they were going to shut down the program if they couldn't find a coach. That didn't sit very well with me. I've coached a lot of these kids here when they were 6, 7 and 8-year-olds."

Samii's philosophy is simple - show up everyday to practice and give 100 percent. Do those two things and a player will see playing time.

"If you don't show up and I don't hear from a player, I don't care if he's the best player on the team, he's not going to play. I expect the same from everybody, and everybody will be treated the same."

The new Carson coach said he favors a possession game.

"I've used it with all the youth soccer teams I've coached," Samii said.

Samii said one of the keys to a possession style attack is controlling the midfield.

Samii said he talked extensively to his family before even applying for the position. One of the concerns was reaction to coaching his son, Michael, an all-league defender last season.

"Michael wants to succeed on his own," said the elder Samii. I haven't coached him since he was 13. He wanted other coaches to coach him, Michael is a very good player, and I think he has the respect of everybody (on the team)."