York, PA -

Brett Maxwell had planned on coaching the boys' soccer team at West York this fall. As both the boys' and girls' coach at the school, he had two years to decide which way to go when the PIAA announced girls' soccer would move to the fall for all member schools.

Then last month, an unexpected opportunity emerged: teaching and coaching at his alma mater, Susquehannock.

A 1998 graduate of the school, Maxwell was hired for a health and physical education position. Meanwhile, Nick Schiffgens had resigned as the Warriors' coach to spend more time with his family. With the opportunity open, Maxwell will now guide a program he once coached before leaving for West York five years ago.

"It happened really fast," said Maxwell, whose coaching job was subject to school board approval this week. "The (teaching) job was posted in May. I was kind of on the fence on which way to go. I had a strong connection with the West York boys, and that was pulling at me."

Maxwell said he applied to teach at Susquehannock only a few days before its June 8 deadline. He and his wife, Laura, moved to Shrewsbury a year ago. However, they met at West York, where Laura still teaches language arts at the middle school. Maxwell also built quite a bit of momentum with both soccer programs. Each won YAIAA Division II championships last season, including an undefeated league mark for the boys.

At Susquehannock, he inherits a young team that graduated only four seniors and advanced to the YAIAA tournament championship game last spring.

Maxwell's first impression of his new players as their coach came Tuesday of last week, when he stopped by to visit athletic director Chuck Abbott. The visit was just for some paperwork, but Maxwell noticed something else.

"I saw 15 girls training without a coach," he said. "It was great to see that commitment."

Now they have a new coach, and so does West York. Maxwell's former assistant, Sarah Waybright, is set to take over the Bulldogs program.

"I think she has a lot of experience," Maxwell said. "She was coaching prior to me being there. She played in college and knows the girls."

And they will play each other at least twice this fall as division rivals.
@mgoul; 771-2076