Jesuit’s Steve Fennah becomes Oregon’s all-time leader wins in girls’ soccer

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Teachers, coaches, students and alumni descended upon Jesuit on Monday as Steve Fennah and his squad routinely dismantled Mountainside 6-0 on a night that was anything but routine.

“It was just another game,” reflected Fennah. “But at the end of the game, there was a bunch of people who meant a lot to me over the years.”

Fennah and company made history on Monday as he became the state’s all-time leader in girls soccer wins with his 325^th dub.

“When a coach gets an award, it’s the players’ award, really,” said the 10-time state champion in his 21^st year of coaching at the high school. “We’ve been blessed by a lot of good soccer players who came to Jesuit since the school went coed in 1993. I think it’s for those guys as much as myself, even though I get the recognition.”

Fennah came on with Jesuit in 1993 in the same position he has today.

He departed the school in 1997 to go coach at Oregon State and then returned to his old gig at Jesuit in 2010.

The gist of all of this? Fennah has coached generations of soccer players in the state. That was reflected in the turnout on Monday.

“We talk a lot about creating an atmosphere that helps the youngsters grow and prepares them for being adults, so it’s nice to see them come back and recognize that experience and be grateful for it,” said Fennah.

His current players are grateful for the experience on Monday as well.

“It was just really special to be a part of. I know he probably treated it like it was just a normal game, but I think it obviously meant so much more,” said junior forward Natalie Webber. “He’s put so much into us, and I think it was a good chance for us to kind of give it back to him because he deserves it so much.”

As for what’s next?

Fennah, who’s been public about his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019, says you better expect him to rack up a few more dubs.

After all, his undefeated squad is yet again the #1 team in the state this season.

“I’m certainly not looking to retire,” said Fennah. “I actually had spoken to the team after last year’s state championship, saying this one was special for various reasons. The word got out that it was special because I was going to retire. All winter, I had to be like, ‘No, I’m not retiring just yet. You can’t get rid of me that easy.’”