Former CMR soccer stars join father on Rustler staff

The LaCasse brothers aren’t afraid of a little competition.

Especially against each other.

“There was never a friendly kick-around in the backyard,” said Joey, a senior All-State defender on the C.M. Russell High soccer team last year. “There was usually some bloody noses and broken teeth.”

Older brother Zack, also an ex-CMR star, said the siblings are wired to find an edge regardless of the situation.

“I don’t know anyone more competitive than me and my brother,” Zack laughed. “It’s been taught to me, I have to do my best all the time to get the results needed and I know that transcends to both my brothers (including youngest brother and incoming freshman Jake). We’re all competitive whether it’s soccer, school…even if it came down to a card game on family game night. We’re both pushing for the win.”

This fall, the former Rustler pitch standouts will be aiming to bring that competitive fire to the sidelines as they join the CMR coaching staff under their father and second-year head coach Kumal LaCasse.

“The three LaCasses, almost like the Three Amigos,” Kumal said with a chuckle.

Kumal said he was elated for the chance to bring his sons on board at their alma mater.

“Honestly, I am over the moon that this opportunity has been made available to us,” he said. “I know that they are more than qualified to assist me with getting this team ready to play this season.”

Zack said he was honored when Kumal asked him to join the staff, which will also include Frank Bresnahan and Mike Huscher, the Rustlers’ new part-time goalkeeper coach.

“I was tickled by it,” he said, “because it’s an opportunity for the kids and my dad and I to push that professionalism and an all-around great environment.”

Zack’s transition from player to coach stretches across five years and two continents. The 2012 CMR grad recently returned from Spain where he competed professionally for two years for Marbella United FC and UD San Pedro following a three-year stint at a pro academy in Leeds, England.

Zack said the time spent across the pond allowed for significant growth as a competitor and person.

“My experience playing overseas the past five years was amazing,” he said. “Obviously, it was a great experience on the pitch because I learned a lot under some great coaches. It was the experience of a lifetime. I got to travel to several different countries and got the experience of playing some top professional teams.”

Aside from learning the physical tools needed to play at a high level, Zack said he learned the great significance of sport’s mental side.

“Just getting that experience of seeing how Europeans play proper football – proper soccer (laughs) – was amazing,” he said. “It taught me a lot. The biggest thing I learned playing overseas, it’s not all about being a talented player, it’s about having the right mindset, the right mentality.”

The pregame preparation was intense as well.

“I really grew as a player,” he said. “Obviously I had a little bit of game prep before, but I never sat down and broke it down. It helped me grow as a player and as a man.”

Zack said the coaching staff’s message has been emphasizing the necessity of being as mentally prepared as possible ahead of matches.

“That’s something me and Coach K (Kumal) want to bring to CMR this year is having a strong mentality,” he said. “Having a really good game prep and making sure the team is 100 percent ready to go. It starts when you wake up. You go through your rituals to make sure you’re 100 percent physically ready and you have a proper mental side, you having nothing holding you back.”

This fall won’t mark the first time the LaCasse brothers have coached with their father, as they’ve assisted him over the years at the club level.

“If I had to choose, I couldn’t ask for two better coaches,” Kumal said. “And having Frank Bresnahan on board, a good friend of mine and colleague. This might be the first time that we might (all) be on the same team, but we’ve coached together and we all know the direction that we want to take this team.”

The rapport built over the years should help lead to a seamless transition, Zack said.

“I’ve coached with my dad before and he and I are a great team,” he said. “Our coaching abilities run off of each other and we always do our absolute best…To be alongside my dad and my brother is an honor. I think with all three of us plus the other coaching staff, I think we’re going to bring a lot to CMR soccer this year.”

Kumal echoed his son’s sentiments.

“I don’t know how to express it other than these guys know who I am, they know what I expect,” he said. “They’re totally on board…They’ll have some precise insight coming from playing to coaching, that they’ll be able to have things they’ll be able to do with the kids and maybe show them in a different way for what I’m asking them to do.”

The LaCasses have been off and running this summer, starting a preseason camp to get the ball rolling ahead of two-a-days.

Zack said the main goal of the season is to not only instill a love of the sport to the players, but to help teach them life lessons as well.

“One thing we’re pushing this year is creating the most professional environment that we can and giving these kids all of the soccer knowledge possible while also creating an environment where they can take these things not only on the pitch but for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Zack said he plans on continuing his professional playing career in the future. But for the time being, he’s very grateful to stay close to the pitch.

“Soccer is the love of my life,” he said. “It’s taught me everything.”